Wenger worried about Walcott

May 26, 2009

Theo Walcott has come on leaps and bounds this year, and looked like he could be about to make himself an Arsenal and England regular, when he got injured. He has come back from injury and again started to show the form he was in the early part of the season but this has means he is likely to feature in both the full England qualifiers and the Under 21’s and Wenger is worried about giving the youngster too heavy a workload.

Wenger has shown his support for Theo and wants him to play at International level as it can only help him improve but he also wants to protect his player.

“I don’t want to stop Theo from playing for the Under-21s, but during the holiday period, they should choose one or the other,” Wenger explained.

An FA spokesman said: “Conversations are ongoing and we want the best for the player and for the England teams.”

Walcott’s last international assignment resulted in him dislocating his shoulder in training for November’s friendly against Germany and he was subsequently out for four months.

“My feeling is that I am against it, and I have let the FA know that he shouldn’t play in both national teams during the holiday period,” Wenger commented.

“It is difficult for us to accept that, but the rules are on the sides of the federation, and we cannot do anything about it.

“But I have let them know that it is not logical that he plays for the first team and the Under-21s during the holiday period, they finish on June 28 and we start training on July 6.

“Of course he wants to play, and I can understand that as well.”

Wenger believes he has the understanding of England coach Fabio Capello, but not the U-21 boss Stuart Pearce, adding: “That is because Capello uses him and then after it is a problem for Stuart Pearce.

“I have nothing against the senior side, that is the normal Fifa dates. The basic problem is can you use a player for two different national teams during the holiday period?”.

Pearce is expected to reduce his provisional 29-man squad to 23 on Wednesday.

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