(Ed’s note – We had some trouble being able to post material last Friday which has resulted in a minor backlog of pieces waiting to go up. So if you’ve sent something, please bear with us. Until things return to normal again, I’ll just put a note on pieces explaining when they were submitted, so that they can be read in that context. The one that follows was submitted before the Reading match last weekend)

What a difference two months can make, Arsenal were riding high, top of the league and facing AC Milan with confidence, now we are out of everything thanks to a defence that has collapsed and everyone looks to the summer in the hope that Arsene will add to the squad with his huge budget. One thing that has also changed is that Walcott is no longer someone struggling to make it who was already ruled out by a fair few people.

A great run of form has seen people remember why were so excited about him at the start of his Arsenal career. Good crossing, looks dangerous, great pace and dribbling. Some were even calling for him to start against Man U after his great run against Liverpool - which I felt was going too far - but I am delighted for him. I am pleased whenever an Arsenal player proves his doubters wrong but even more so with Walcott. He has shown glimpses of what he could do for club and country but I fear now people have gone from dismissive to overconfidence in his current ability.

During the recent run, he came on and set up Ade to head against the bar against AC Milan, then in an otherwise quite game against Birmingham he suddenly burst into life, volleying home into an empty net then a great solo goal. Against Aston Villa he was in two positions, up front and then swapped to the right and he showed what he could do when he got the ball - unlucky not to score. Against AC Milan away, he came off the bench and set up the second goal with a great run and low cross to Ade to finish off the game.

Against Boro, Walcott came on but had negligible effect, he was limited against Chelsea and Bolton but he was dangerous in first leg against Liverpool, giving Carragher and co problems early on, but again isolated when switched to the right. Starting in the league game, he was dangerous only when he cut inside and got tackled with the ball breaking to an Arsenal player, otherwise he was constantly quickly tackled. But at Anfield, his great run should have sent us through if not for another defensive collapse.

His appearance against Man U was full of running but facing the best left back in the league this season – Evra - he struggled. Walcott has yet to find it in himself to be good enough for most of the game and that is what he will have to do if he is to start more often as he wishes, either as a winger or as a striker. Sometimes it is a simple case of his not getting the ball and when he does spark, if only for a short time, he is a joy to behold. But if he can't do it from the start then he will remain an impact sub for a while longer. He is after all only nineteen and is far from being the finished product.

Now our season is down to chasing Chelsea for second place, it might be time to give run outs to players due to leave in the summer, rest those who started nearly every match. Most of those will need a break given that the likes of Cesc and Gallas have Euro 2008 to play in and so a very short summer to recover. Most of all, this could be a time for squad players like Walcott to show what they can do in the remaining games, giving Arsene something to think about for next season.

I would want Walcott on the right for the last four and Bendtner up front with Van Persie, who will need games with Euro 2008 coming up while Ade looks like he could use a long rest before next season. Walcott may want to play up front and has done well there for U21’s and Arsenal but I think his immediate future remains as wing cover. So he should start by making Arsene consider him for a starting role next season over Eboue or any new addition to the team. If he doesn't start for the last three games, when will he get a chance?

Reading are fighting for their lives, have some good players and are a good passing unit but judging by their recent games against us, they will spend most of it trying to hold us off then make a late flurry. With Diaby suspended, Walcott could be of use on the left against Rosenior, moved out wide due to injuries at right back. Theo has played there before and Reading's tactics make a good test - can he unlock Reading side that will have every man behind the ball? Doing so will be a major boost to his confidence and give him something to build on.

Van Persie could be rested (I’d rather not see him risk getting injured for this one) against Derby and Walcott pushed up front. He should enjoy himself against a defence that has looked inept throughout the season though keeper Carrol has been doing well. But even if he got four goals from this, it probably isn't saying much given Derby’s problems this season. Hopefully he will have had two good games but Everton will be a real test despite their recent dip. Unless playing on the left he will be facing England internationals backed by a very good keeper. If he has been playing well then this will be a real key game for him. Do well here and he makes a real case for more regular starts though failing to do well wouldn't be a disgrace against such a formidable side.

I would play him on the right for this one. Last game of the season is the trip to face a Sunderland side that, barring a real collapse, will already be safe so may rest players of their own - but will probably want to get a good home win to sign off the season. The home game against them showed the worst and best of Walcott, miscuing with an open goal but once his confidence was up, he terrorised Sunderland, setting up the winner, hitting the post and being the focus point of all our attacks as he drifted in from the right - a position I would hope him to fulfil for the game.

I would want him to have played well against Reading, Derby and Sunderland, two of which are sides good enough not to make it easy for him. If he does that then I would have confidence in him starting against bottom half teams next season. But if he can't manage that then he can't really complain if he remains an impact sub. Do I think he can do it? He did it against formidable sides before so yes, I think he can get a good run of form and giving us something to enjoy as the season limps to a close. I would actually be quite disappointed if he doesn't manage to impress.