Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the clubs longest serving player Theo Walcott. The 26-year-old joined the Gunners aged just 16, moving for around £12m from Southampton. He has since gone on to make over 200 appearances for the north London club.

Wenger, who is well known for snapping up players at a young age and developing them into stars, says that Theo has matured and become a man at Arsenal.

The England international has not had an easy ride with injuries throughout his career. He has spent a large amount of time on the sidelines due to injury and had doubts over his future. But the Gunners boss trusted in the player and rewarded him with a new long-term contract at the Emirates in July to commit his future to the club.

“He has become very mature, he has gone through difficult periods so he is a very strong man.” said Wenger.

“He is a man today, when he arrived here he was a boy, a little boy who discovered a world where he did not know anything about it.”

“Of course he had to go through bad injuries and disappointments and I believe he is a man today, a man who knows what he wants and has been faithful to our club. It was a great signing.”

[Quotes via ESPN]

Walcott has recently been in contention for a striking spot in the side, as apposed to on the right hand side. One thing you always get with Theo is 100% work-rate, so despite his injury troubled career, the 26-year-old can hopefully start to show what he’s really all about.