The Gunners ended a nine-year trophy drought with victory in the FA Cup last season but are still waiting for their first Premier League title since 2004, currently languishing 13 points behind Chelsea in sixth.
Manager Arsene Wenger has endured growing criticism from Arsenal fans and was confronted in his dugout by one irate supporter during Thursday’s 2-0 loss to Southampton.
But Walcott believes the responsibility for turning around the Gunners’ season lies with the players themselves and is hoping to work himself back to match fitness after a serious knee injury in the process.
“It’s a year since [the injury] and it’s gone very quickly,” the 25-year-old told the club’s official website. “I’ve had loads of things in my life that have changed completely. That side of it was a good thing.
“Things happen for a reason and it’s given me the opportunity to work on different parts of my game that I missed out on when I was younger – the actual development stage of it.
“I am looking forward to getting a few minutes (on Sunday). I’m not expecting too much from these games early on. It will be blowing the cobwebs away and will be good to be out playing with my mates again because I’ve missed it all.