Walcott magic gives Arsenal consolation

By Mike Collett

LIVERPOOL (Reuters) - Liverpool's epic 4-2 Champions League win over Arsenal on Tuesday was full of memorable moments with Arsenal's teenage substitute Theo Walcott providing the best individual skill of all.

With Liverpool leading 2-1 with six minutes left, Walcott took possession on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area and set off like an Olympic sprinter. His 70-metre surge took him past four Liverpool defenders before he crossed perfectly for Emmanuel Adebayor to score Arsenal's equaliser.

His run recalled Michael Owen's goal for England against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France and Ryan Giggs' run and goal against Arsenal for Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final.

Both Owen and Giggs scored after their runs, but Walcott was happy to be applauded by his team mates and fans for his glorious assist.

At that point, with the score on the night level at 2-2 and Arsenal ahead on the away goals rule, it seemed as though he had yet again provided Arsenal with a match-changing lifeline as he has done a number of other occasions this season.

In the end, Liverpool rallied with two late goals to win, but Walcott's presence on the field for what proved to be the final 23 minutes of the titanic contest was unforgettable.

BIG IMPACT

Wenger, who signed him as a 16-year-old from Southampton in January 2006, said before the first leg that he intended using him during the three matches against Liverpool in the Champions League and Premier League over the last week.