THEO Walcott has been arguing to be switched from a pacey wingman to a centre forward role for what seems like a lifetime. This afternoon, given the chance to put his manifesto into action, he scored an explosive hat-trick before half-time. 

Arsenal, after three home matches without a goal, suddenly looked like they could score with any attack, destroying West Bromwich Albion inside the first 17 minutes.

With Olivier Giroud asked to sit it out on the subs bench, the Gunners dispensed of high balls and took the Baggies on for passing and pace. It was like everything had clicked into place, on the final match of the season.

Wenger must now decide which strategy to deploy at Wembley next weekend when the season will either be judged as a success or a disappointment depending on whether they beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

The likelihood is that Giroud will be restored for the one that matters with Wenger a fan of how Walcott can change games as a late substitute when opponents’ legs are sapped of energy. But with contract negotiations ahead, Walcott will point to his starring role here as a service which Arsenal would be foolish not to keep funding. The manager’s masterplan has often been compared to the way he worked Thierry Henry as a winger in his younger years before converting him into the prolific centre forward he ultimately became, but even he conceded in his post-match press conference that Walcott had been around long enough to find his best fit.

The quality of Walcott's goals had a touch of Henry about them. The first, on five minutes, saw him make space for himself in the penalty like the old master used to, before cracking the ball fiercely beyond Boaz Myhill into the top corner. Determination led to a second, as Walcott dodged a couple of desperate challenges to poke in a low shot. His hat-trick was complete when he popped up at the back post to convert a sweeping passing move largely orchestrated by Santi Cazorla. Before then, Jack Wilshere had threatened to steal his thunder with a corking volley from the edge of the box.

The second half was predictably played at a less frenetic pace and the fans aspirations for a tennis set score were snuffed out by a lively second period from the visitors, capped by Gareth McAuley’s headed goal from a corner.

Aaron Ramsey came on and hit the post twice, screwing a third opportunity wide. Alexis Sanchez was still screaming for goals deep into injury time but the gusto had gone from his team-mates and the Baggies might have struck a second consolation when David Ospina fumbled Craig Gardner’s long-ranger onto his own crossbar.

The visiting manager Tony Pulis said the defeat could be blamed on him, after he failed to shuffle the team after an exerting 3-0 win at home to Chelsea on Monday evening.

Of his match-winners, Wenger said: “Theo was already sharp when he came on in midweek against Sunderland, he was the one who created the chances. I've always said that he can play through the middle. Theo has been out for a year and it takes time to come back to your best. Jack is a bit similar. He was out for six months and he came back and had a convincing first half."