Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is now a 'more complete player' after improving the defensive side of his game.
Arsenal boss feels winger is no longer a defensive liability
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is now a 'more complete player' after improving the defensive side of his game.
Walcott, who joined the Gunners as a teenager from Southampton in 2006, has gradually established himself as a fixture in Wenger's starting line-up this season.
The England international's progress has often drawn criticism from outside Emirates Stadium, but Wenger is pleased with the 22-year-old.
The Arsenal boss feels Walcott is no longer a 'liability' defensively and he is now able to combine those duties with making an impact in attack.
Does his job
"Theo has been struggling because we make him work very hard," said Wenger. "He has become a more complete player. He's not a liability defensively, he does his defensive job.
"At the start that makes you have heavy legs when you win the ball back but now he is getting used to it and he does his job going forward as well.
"He went through a patch maybe where he worked so hard he didn't have the resources to go forward, but not now."
Arsenal have recovered from a shaky start to the season and Wenger believes Saturday's thrilling 5-3 win at London rivals Chelsea demonstrated the spirit within his squad.
He added: "That shows we have suffered and the belief is back and the spirit in the team is great. All this together explains why the players react like that.
"The spirit is strong, the players are determined and together."
