Two goals in the space of five minutes from Theo Walcott seemed set to give Arsenal all three points against Birmingham.

But it was not to be as James McFadden, who had scored from a free kick in the first half, scored the equaliser in the final few seconds of the game.

Walcott scored his first ever Premiership goals for the Gunners, the first in the 50th minute from the six yard box after Adebayor had appeared to have fouled keeper Taylor following a corner from Fabregas as the Togolese jumped for a header and managed an assist for the young forward.

However, the second goal showed the class of the talented Walcott as he moved from the right side to score with a left-footed shot from 18 yards in the 55th minute.

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.

For more information see skysports.com

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.

Theo Walcott has been named in the England U21 squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifying matches.

There had been speculation that Theo could be named in the full England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia.

Full England Under-21 squad:

Alnwick (Tottenham), Hart (Man City), Heaton (Man Utd); A Taylor (Middlesbrough), Onouha (Man City), S Taylor (Newcastle), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Gardner (Aston Villa), Mancienne (Chelsea), Jones (Preston); Huddlestone (Tottenham), Johnson (Middlesbrough), Kightly (Wolves), Milner (Newcastle), Muamba (Birmingham), Surman (Southampton), Walcott (Arsenal), Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Leadbitter (Sunderland); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Derbyshire (Blackburn), Moore (Aston Villa), Jerome (Birmingham), Vaughan (Everton).

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

Theo Walcott gave a reminder of just why he was taken to the world cup in last nights 1-1 draw against Romania U21.

Walcott’s running terrifeid the Romanian defence, and forced the Norwegian referee to show three yellow cards before half time for fouls on the Arsenal star.

Full match report of England U21 v Romania U21