Hleb - Theo needed continuity

Hleb: Walcott praise

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Alexander Hleb has intimated that his Arsenal departure paved the way for Theo Walcott's recent flourish in form.

Hleb ended his three-year stay with the Gunners in the summer as he completed a switch to Spanish giants Barcelona.

Walcott had previously struggled for regular first-team football in North London, however this campaign he has already recorded nine starts.

The teenager has benefited from his run in the team and, as well as impressing for Arsenal, he has dazzled on the international stage with England.

Phenomenal

Hleb said in The People: "Theo's success with the England side has come as no surprise.

"He is a player who needed some continuity, and if he gets that then Capello will be able to generate much more success with his side.

"In my time at Arsenal you could see from an early stage he was a player with serious potential.

"But his development was complicated and his chances of getting in the team were not helped by the number of quality players we had in the squad.

"It's normal to have only five or six attacking players in the side at one time.

"But now Wenger is giving him more minutes on the pitch and his football is progressing as a result.

"Walcott is in a phenomenal run of form at the moment. I have seen how he has progressed with Arsenal and going by the highlights I have seen of England's recent matches."

Walcott is poised to start for England on Wednesday when Fabio Capello's men lock horns with Belarus in their fourth Group 6 World Cup qualifier.

Favourites

Belarus captain Hleb is set to miss the encounter with injury, and the playmaker is expecting a tough test for his compatriots in Minsk.

He added: "To play at home is going to give us a small advantage but it won't be a decisive one.

"England are obviously big favourites for the match, but Belarus have been working on some special tactics and we will have to carry them out perfectly if we are to cause a surprise.

"England have a sensational squad - nobody should be in any doubt of that.

"They were not in the last European Championships because of mistakes they made in big games, but they are still one of the best teams in the world."