Wenger wants Walcott protection

Arsene Wenger fully expects Theo Walcott to come in for more harsh treatment - but has called for referees to provide the England star with the “right protection”.

The 19-year-old – who struck a superb hat-trick to help sink Croatia in the recent World Cup qualifier – was given a rough ride by Dynamo Kiev captain Andriy Nesmachniy during the Champions League opener in the Ukraine on Wednesday night.

Wenger was left seething by what he believed was a blatant attempt by the defender to “destroy” Arsenal’s flying winger, but also lambasted the referee for not punishing what were some rash challenges.

Walcott himself accepts “being kicked about” is all part of the game nowadays.

While that is something Wenger also understands, the Arsenal manager feels a line must be drawn between a fair physical game and blatant abuse.

“That is always the way of a player who gets a reputation for being dangerous. The first answer he gets is harsh treatment,” said Wenger.

“We do not expect any presents from anybody – but we want as well the right protection from the referees.”

Wenger continued: “You do not want to put any special pressure on the referees - but it is all in the rulebook.

“If for example you allow the first bad tackle then the second one becomes difficult for the referee. I thought that on Wednesday night, the target was not the ball.

“What is most important is that if a guy plays hard it is down to Theo to deal with it – but if the guy targets Theo as an individual, he has to be punished.”

Arsenal returned from Ukraine with a hard-earned point following a late equaliser by captain William Gallas.

Wenger’s men now face another testing away date when they meet Bolton in this afternoon’s late kick-off.

The Arsenal manager, though, insists there can be no talk of fatigue as the Gunners aim to extend a four-match unbeaten run.

“It will not be an issue because we do not put that in our brain,” Wenger said. "You want just to keep the focus as we had it at Blackburn and Kiev.

“Let’s get the maximum out of the game and let’s win the game. You don’t consider fatigue or not. When you are a competitor you want competition – so you cannot complain when you have competition that you are tired.

“It is a fantastic opportunity because when you are a football player you want to play football matches.”

It was Gallas’ third European goal on Wednesday night and Wenger is delighted for his captain’s newly-found killer instinct.

“He was a striker when he was young and you can see he has the nose to be where you have to be at the right moment,” said Wenger.

“If it is a corner or a deflection, William Gallas is there. He has kept something of a striker and that comes out in these desperate situations.

“The biggest quality of a striker who scores goals is exceptional skill or through anticipation and understanding where the ball will be.”

Wenger added: “I am convinced that in a game like Kiev it was an important goal, because coming back from Kiev with a defeat or with a point, it is a completely different perspective.”

Elsewhere, Arsenal yesterday announced a pre-tax profit of £36.7m as their move to the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium continues to pay off.