In the 5-2 win against Reading, Arsene Wenger fielded four English players in his starting lineup, and the manager admitted that would be the way of the future at the club so well known and often criticized for fielding too many foreign players.
Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere were an integral part of the game, and along with Aaron Ramsey, who came on as a substitute, and Carl Jenkinson, the long-term right-back for the Gunners, Arsenal have a British core that can finally strut their stuff on the big stage.
Apart from Walcott, the other five players are set to sign new contracts, which will keep them at the
Emirates until at least 2018. Wenger does not want to see another mass exodus of his best players, and is banking on the loyalty generally shown by the local boys, when it comes to sticking to clubs in the English Premier League, particularly ones in the top-four.
Walcott is the only joker in the pack as of now, with the 23-year-old, whose current contract comes to an end in the summer, yet to agree on a new deal. However, after watching Walcott put in an impressive performance as a center forward, a position he has been craving for years, Wenger is hopeful his player will sign on the dotted line soon.
"It is not my decision, it is Theo's decision as well," Wenger said after Arsenal's 5-2 win over Reading. "If it is my decision it is quickly done.
"I believe he has been educated at Southampton and Arsenal, he has become a top level player at Arsenal. And I hope that when he considers his future he considers that that is the best place for him, and that he will sign for us.
"Our desire and will is clear, he knows that. And hopefully we can get to a happy end with it."
Walcott himself was coy when asked about his future, but hinted he was looking at extending his stay. "Talks are ongoing and it's going to be a slow process," Walcott told Sky Sports. "It's taking a long time but hopefully something will happen soon.
"We're a big family and we know our quality and that we're good enough.
"I enjoyed playing up front and the boss gave me that opportunity. I thought I did very well and the players around me always make my job easier."
Wilshere added he's is doing his best to convince his England international teammate to remain a Gunner. "I've been working all year on him," he said with a smile. "But that's between Theo, his representatives and the boss but hopefully we can sign him up.
"He showed he can do it up front and hopefully he can play there in the future."
If Walcott does sign, Arsenal will have a big core of British players in their lineup, and that is exactly what Wenger is after, because the Arsenal manager believes the these players will be more loyal to the club than the foreigners, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Robin Van Persie and Alex Song turning their backs on the club in recent seasons.
"I believe we have a good core of young English players," Wenger said. "We couldn't keep the good core of young foreign players. And I hope we will be capable to build a team around all these young English players who can achieve something together.
"I believe as well when a club gives a chance to young players, somewhere the players must say 'let's do it together.' Because if you educate players at some stage the fate is in their hands. And they have to want to do it together at some stage. And stay together."
The Arsenal boss also admitted his team were now in a much better financial position and would be looking to strengthen the team in the coming transfer markets.
"We have gone through a period where we had restricted potential, financially, when we moved into the new stadium.
"We have gone over that period and hopefully now we can be a bit more convincing."
