Pennant warns Walcott

Jermaine Pennant has warned Theo Walcott of the potential pitfalls that lie ahead after the youngster completed his £12m (€17.5m) move from Southampton to Arsenal.

Pennant, who is now with Birmingham, has first-hand experience of what lies ahead for Walcott after moving from Notts County to the Gunners as a 15-year-old for £2m (€2.9m) in 1999.

The winger became frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities and questioned whether the youngsters are given a fair chance at Highbury.

His career turned sour and off the pitch he started to attract the headlines for the wrong reasons. Pennant spent a month last season in jail for drink-driving offences during a loan period at Birmingham which became a permanent move in the summer.

The former England Under-21 player has warned Walcott – who has cost an initial £5m (€7.6m) – it will “take its toll” if he endures a similar scenario of limited chances to show his skills.

But he also has confidence in 16-year-old Walcott’s ability and backed him to succeed “if he is as good as everyone is saying”.

Pennant said: “I’ve never seen Walcott play but I’ve heard he is a good player and the big teams have been in for him so he must be good. I wish him all the best – but it is not going to be easy.

“Are Arsenal the best club to develop at? Things didn’t work out for me so it would be hard for me to say but the club has got a lot of faith in him and they will try and nurture him as best as possible.

“It didn’t work out for me and hopefully it will work out for him.

“When I was there, my FA Youth Cup team won the competition two years in a row and there is nobody to show for it playing now at Arsenal.

“Everyone has gone elsewhere – Steve Sidwell, David Noble, Jay Bothroyd, a lot of players, I could keep on going.

“Only Ashley Cole has come through from the youth ranks so I don’t know if the youngsters do get a chance but we will see what happens with Walcott.”

Pennant is hoping Walcott has more joy in eventually being given first-team football by Arsene Wenger.

He said: “You go to Arsenal, you just want to play football, you are so excited and you have a honeymoon period.

“Then as soon as you know you are not playing you start thinking ‘what have I done here? why am I not playing? what’s happening?’

“There are good times but if you know you are not playing every week, like Walcott has been playing regularly at Southampton, then it can take its toll.

“It is going to be difficult but I’m sure Arsenal have got faith in him and he will come through.

“Have I any advice for Walcott? It would be ‘just be patient, train hard and make sure your attitude is right’. If he is good enough as everyone is saying, then Arsene Wenger will give him his chance.”