Wenger confirms Theo op

Arsenal and England forward has operation on injured shoulder

By James Dall   Last updated: 20th November 2008

Theo Walcott

Walcott: Shoulder surgery

I do not blame the FA for the injury. It was accidental. I accept it.

Arsene Wenger on Theo Walcott injury
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Theo Walcott underwent surgery on his dislocated shoulder on Thursday morning.

The teenage forward sustained the blow in a training session in Germany on Tuesday while on international duty with England.

Wenger revealed he expects Walcott to be sidelined for at least three months with the injury to his right shoulder.

Last year the former Southampton player had surgery on his left shoulder and he only recently returned to action after jarring that area badly at Stoke City earlier this month.

Wenger rued the loss of his star attacker but refused to blame the Football Association for the training-ground accident.

Blame

The French coach said on Sky Sports News: "He has a dislocated shoulder and he had surgery today.

"He will be out for three months. I am disappointed because he is an important player.

"But that could have happened in training here and we have to accept it as an accident. It could have happened anywhere.

"I do not blame the FA for the injury. It was accidental in training. I accept it."

Wenger went on to explain that he is yet to decide whether the club will pursue any claim for compensation from the FA while he questioned the timing of the friendly match in Berlin.

Compensation

He said: "I don't know (if Arsenal will seek compensation), I have not thought about that. In a moment like that you do not think about money, you think about how you can replace in the player in the squad.

"I have not thought at all about any compensation. The sad situation is that a friendly in mid-November before important fixtures is that many players pulled out.

"This friendly is very badly positioned. It will be very interesting for Fifa or Uefa to study those players that did not play last night and those that do play on Saturday, or Tuesday and Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League."