Walcott hat-trick was ‘exception’, warns Wenger

THEO Walcott’s hat-trick in Croatia came as no surprise to Arsene Wenger.

But the Arsenal boss warned against expecting a similar display every time he pulls on an England shirt.

The 19-year-old chalked up his first full international goals in some style as Fabio Capello’s men put themselves on the road to South Africa 2010 with a convincing win in the Maksimir Stadium on Wednesday night.

“I am not surprised because he is a player who has good timing with his runs and is a clinical finisher,” said Wenger, “but I always believed that he will be a fantastic player and I was never concerned. It’s important that he continues to develop as a team player.

“What happened yesterday we have to consider to be an exception – even for players of 25, 26 to score three in an international game is a one-off.”

While Wenger believes Walcott has not yet reached his peak, the Arsenal manager warned against comparisons with Gunners legend Thierry Henry.

“The potential is there – but do not make him Thierry Henry before he is Thierry Henry,” said Wenger. “One game is one game, a career is something different, it is consistency. I am convinced it is in him, but let it get out and give him time.”

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, for his part, believes Walcott could become another Arsenal legend in the same mould as Henry.

Redknapp was the man who gave Walcott his first league start for Southampton aged just 16 in a clash with Leeds three years ago. Nothing that has happened since has changed Redknapp’s view that the youngster, whom he first encountered at the age of 11, is bound for super stardom.

“Theo showed again that he is a real talent. I think he will end up as a striker just like Henry did,” he said.

“Pace is his main asset but when he’s out wide it can be very difficult because, despite all that, people can close right down on you. But in the middle he can run either side of markers, get at the centre-halves and allow others to drop off him into the space he creates.

“It’s a bit like Henry. When Thierry first came over to Arsenal he played wide on the left for a year or so and didn’t have such a great impact early on. But when he was put through the middle that’s when he went on to become such a world-class player. It could be the same with Theo.’’