Arsene Wenger has urged England coach Steve McClaren to recall Theo Walcott to the national side, more than a year after the 18-year-old was controversially named in the 2006 World Cup squad.

Walcott has been a revelation this season and played a starring role in Arsenal’s 7-0 Champions League thrashing of Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium last night.

Only a brilliant one-handed save denied him a hat-trick as Arsenal recorded their biggest win in the competition, and the joint-best in Europe by any team.

England could certainly do with some fresh impetus up front, after the poor showing in their latest Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, and Wenger is convinced Walcott has matured sufficiently to make his mark on the international stage.

He said: “You complain about not having any strikers and he’s one of them. He has intelligence, fantastic pace and his technique is improving.

“When you go from being a young promising player to the world of men, you discover the world is not as ideal as you thought.

“We saw how clinical his finishing can be. He doesn’t panic in front of goal. He has the talent.”

From Telegraph 

Little Theo Walcott, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you. The Englishman in the most lustrous attacking football team in the country finally got his chance to sparkle last night and his two goals gave English football something it could cling to. As the national team prepares to enter a long, dark winter of the soul, any fragile hope will do.

“At times it was a joy to watch,” Arsène Wenger said although he was not just talking about Walcott but the whole Arsenal attacking ensemble that swept past Slavia Prague on seven occasions. This team of Wenger’s have been accused of trying to walk the ball into the net at times and, for the seventh goal from substitute Nicklas Bendtner, they did exactly that. It was gripping stuff with Walcott at the heart of it.

The 18-year-old was only denied a hat-trick by a despairing save from Martin Vaniak in the 81st minute, but that was just about all the Slavia goalkeeper stopped. The seven-goal margin equalled the biggest-ever victory in the Champions League and for Walcott it was a night that he will never forget. Wenger agreed there was “a touch of Thierry Henry” about Walcott’s second goal, although that particular old boy does not seem to be missed one bit.

From The Independent