Theo Walcott

Today in our mini-series analysing Arsenal's top four players of the season, we reflect on Theo Walcott's 2012/13 stats.

Theo Walcott topped the Arsenal scoring charts in 2012/13, becoming the sixth different player in the Arsène Wenger era to reach 20 goals in a season.

The man with more career Arsenal appearances and goals than any other current player, Walcott ended this campaign with 21 strikes in all competitions, from 43 appearances (12 of which were from the bench).

His tally included hat-tricks against Reading (in the Capital One Cup) and Newcastle (in the Premier League), as well as scoring against Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United - all for the second season in a row.

The north London derby in mid-November was the first time Walcott completed 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, as he was often used from the bench during the first couple of months.

By the end of the season though Walcott had racked up 2,978 minutes on the pitch, which equates to 61.7 per cent of the total available playing time.

The 24-year-old, who signed a new contract in January, also contributed 16 assists, more than any other Arsenal player, and overall he either scored or assisted once every 80 minutes throughout the campaign.

As well as scoring two hat-tricks, he claimed a hat-trick of assists, in the Capital One Cup, meaning he had a hand in six of the goals that evening.

Walcott played (and scored) in all four competitions, he was brought on as a sub 13 times and he is now the second most used substitute in Arsenal history. He has come off the bench 91 times, closing in on Kanu's record of 94.

He brought up his 250th Gunners outing during the season, and is now on 263 career games for Arsenal, placing him 66th in the Club's all-time appearance list.

Walcott set a new club record during the season, scoring Arsenal's fastest ever Premier League goal - 20 seconds into the win over QPR at the beginning of May.

He had already scored a first-minute goal - at Everton in November - which was timed at 51 seconds. He also scored one minute 42 seconds into the home draw with Manchester United at the end of April.

It wasn't just early goals Walcott specialised in - he netted five 90th-minute goals too. In fact his hat-trick against Reading consisted entirely of injury-time strikes - one at the end of the first half, one at the end of 90 minutes, and again at the end of extra-time.

His next goal after that Reading game, at Schalke in the Champions League, was his 50th for the Club, making Walcott the 47th player in Arsenal history to reach a half-century. He now has 63 to his name (as well as 66 assists) placing him 33rd in the all-time scoring list.

Thirty of his goals were scored at Emirates Stadium - only Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie have scored more there.

With thanks to Opta. All stats correct as at May 24, 2013