Theo Walcott
Arsenal's Theo Walcott has scored two league goals this season. REUTERS REUTERS

Theo Walcott has dismissed the suggestion that Arsenal are concerned by Tottenham's impressive start to the season, and told his team-mates to concentrate on their own campaign.

Spurs are currently third, five points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand having won eight out of their last 10 league fixtures.

However, Walcott believes Arsenal will not be troubled unduly by Tottenham's title push and insists the club will not let themselves be distracted by those around them who are also vying for a top-four finish.

"We don't have to worry about anyone else, we have to concentrate on each game," the Arsenal midfielder said. "Maybe we are thinking too far ahead, or thinking too much about Tottenham potentially finishing above us.

"Hopefully we can make sure that doesn't happen, but we have to take things on a game-by-game basis.

"I think that can be a problem, we cannot worry about wanting teams to drop points when we should just be concentrating on ourselves."

Speaking ahead of Saturday's home clash with Queens Park Rangers, the Arsenal winger said he was looking forward to facing former team-mate Armand Traore when the two sides meet at the Emirates.

Traore left Arsenal in the summer after failing to hold down a regular first-team place under Arsene Wenger, and Walcott believes the move is likely to prove favourable in the long-run.

"Armand has absolutely everything [to succeed] - he is a very good professional," Walcott told Arsenal Player.

"Maybe Neil Warnock will be good for him and make him switch on even more. Armand is tremendous going forward, defensively strong. He has all the attributes. Hopefully he will be at it, and it'll be a nice test for me.

"You must be at it, because when you do get the chance, you have to take it. If he was still here he might have had his chance because we haven't had a left back for a while now, though obviously Thomas Vermaelen is playing there now."