Wenger defends Walcott after ´no football brain´ barb

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Friday defended winger Theo Walcott after the 20-year-old was accused of lacking a “football brain” who cannot compete at international level.

The criticism was made by former England international Chris Waddle following Walcott’s poor showing in England’s 3-1 friendly win against Egypt in midweek.

But Gunners boss Wenger said: “I believe for a while maybe people expected too much of Theo and now they are too hard with him.

“I believe Theo will be a great football player, he is very young, he will be 21 this year, he will have a great future.

“I believe in him because he has a fantastic attitude, he’s an intelligent boy and he is highly motivated. These players always improve.”

Waddle told the BBC that Walcott should miss out on Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad because he has failed to improve his understanding of the game since his move from Southampton.

“I?ve never seen him develop. He just doesn?t understand the game for me: where to be running, when to run inside a full-back, (when to) just play a one-two,” the 49-year-old said.

“I just don?t think he?s got a football brain and he?s going to have problems. Eventually he could play up front but would he know where to run? Let?s be honest, good defenders would catch him offside every time,” Waddle added.

Walcott was hauled off after 57 minutes at Wembley on Wednesday to be replaced by Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips.