Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Theo Walcott has been spurred on to have a good season after being overlooked for England’s Euro 2016 squad this summer.
The Gunners have had a strong start to the new season and the flying attacker has played an important role in this – he scored against Chelsea in the 3-0 win at the weekend.
Walcott has reverted to his right-wing berth rather than featuring up front and has looked back to his menacing self in the Arsenal attack.
The former Southampton star suffered a host of debilitating injuries last season, which played a part in the attacker not being selected to play regularly for his club.
This translated to the national set-up, with Roy Hodgson not selecting Walcott for the group that travelled to France.
Wenger has stated that missing the international tournament was disappointing for the attacker but that he is trying to prove himself again this term.
“What was a big blow for him was not to go to the Euros,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by The Mirror.
“He is a guy with a good assessment of his performances and qualities. I said many times at the start of the season that we would see a different Theo Walcott.
“He has matured. When a player survives this type of disappointment from what was promised for him at 16, you always feel there is something special in this guy because of the way he deals with the situation.”
