If reports are to be believed then Arsenal have turned down a sensational move by Liverpool to take Theo Walcott on loan.

The Times have reported the 18-year-old has attracted interest from several Barclays Premier League clubs, with Manchester City also interested, but the biggest suprise is that Rafael Benitez was willing to place his faith in a player of such limited experience as he attempts to rescue Liverpool’s faltering season will come as a surprise.

Benitez has admired Walcott for some time and was one of many managers scrambling for his signature when he left Southampton two years ago.

Theo Walcott may go out on loan for the rest of the season after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he wanted to loan him to another premiership club.

The Arsenal boss has apparently made some calls to rival managers offering them the England star, 18, for the rest of the season.

But he only wants to loan him if he gets regular football and is played down the middle rather than out wide.

This would be a good move for Theo who has not been able to shine as expected, mainly due to being played out wide by Arsene Wenger

Theo Walcott scored a 79th minute equaliser to deny Tottenham Hotspur an advantage in the Carling Cup semi-final.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger today backed striker Theo Walcott to end his goal-scoring drought.

Theo hasn’t scored a Premiership for Arsenal since he joined from Southampton two years ago in a £10m deal.

The 18-year-old has been mostly used as a fringe player since then, but Wenger said: “Walcott does need a goal, but the goal will come when it is not an obsession.