Wenger tips Walcott for bounceback season

Theo Walcott was something of a surprise inclusion in Sam Allardyce’s first England squad, but Arsène Wenger insists the winger can repay the new England boss’ faith.

Walcott was left out of the Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2016, but is included by Allardyce, who looks keen on playing with greater width than his predecessor.

Now 27, Walcott has played every minute of Arsenal’s season so far, including the full 90 in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Watford, their first success of the campaign.

And according to Wenger, Walcott is going to have a big season provided he can avoid the injury bug which has hampered his career since he first made his name as a teenager a decade ago.

(David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I said before the season started that we will get a different Theo Walcott this year,” said Wenger.

“I hope he has no setback because he is an intelligent player, he is focused and has a great desire to prove his critics wrong and he’s on a good way.

“I am very pleased, I think we had an excellent first half at Watford,” he added. “We cannot maintain it completely physically yet for 90 minutes but overall I could see there was some potential in the team, some fluency.

“We created chances and there was great movement. Overall I am very pleased with our first-half performance. Defensively we had a good game as well and I believe when everybody is on board physically for 90 minutes, we have a strong team.”