From zero to Theo - how Wenger got Walcott ready for the big stage again

Walcott's father, a charming, endearingly enthusiastic bloke called Don, was so angry at the end of one match he turned to a guy in an England shirt who happened to be standing next to him and declared exactly what he thought of the Swede.

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"I don't think you've got any chance of playing now," Don later confessed to Theo. "I've just slaughtered Sven to his son."

Eriksson actually saw the funny side of it when the story was retold to him but what the then England coach had already realised was the simple truth about a player who, in the end, represented a reckless and unnecessary gamble.

The hugely talented 17-year-old, as his limited first-team experience suggested, was not ready to play on football's biggest stage.

Arsene Wenger knew as much the moment he signed him from Southampton two years ago and Arsenal's manager took certain steps as a consequence.

As well as encouraging him to learn from players such as Thierry Henry, he assured Walcott that he would reach 21 without injuries that come as a result of playing too often at such an age — like those that have had a negative impact on the careers of players such as Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler.

Medical tests that Walcott underwent at Arsenal revealed that his body had already been put under too much strain. Walcott was training with Southampton's youth team but playing for the reserves and first team, scoring five goals in 10 Championship appearances and so securing his move to north London.

One problem Arsenal immediately identified was a hereditary shoulder condition that would require surgery. Walcott discovered the problem after a crunching challenge from Portsmouth's Linvoy Primus in a reserve game and it had become so bad last season that he could suffer a dislocation rolling over in bed. It had a debilitating effect on his performances and he finally had the operation in March.

As his more recent performances would suggest, not least against Slavia Prague on Tuesday night, being handled with such care is paying off. He is now worthy of consideration not just for Arsenal's first team but England, as either a striker or on the right side where he would certainly pose a threat to the inconsistent Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Steve McClaren has ignored Walcott because the player has made so few first-team appearances. By this time last season he had made just one start for Arsenal and one for England Under 19s. This season he has already made five starts for Arsenal and five for England Under 21s.

At the same time, however, Wenger refuses to treat him like a senior squad member and McClaren, or whoever replaces him should England fail to qualify for Euro 2008, should also recognise that Walcott is not as physically mature as Wayne Rooney or Cesc Fabregas at the same age. Walcott, at 18, remains the youngest member of England Under 21s squad.

All those around Walcott are handling him with extra special care. His representatives at Key Sports Management have lost count of the number of commercial offers they have rejected. Right now he has just one sponsor and they simply supply him with boots.

Because of his surprise promotion to the World Cup squad he remains under intense scrutiny. "His life's been like the Truman Show," said a close associate yesterday. But Wenger, his father, his representatives and the FA continue to treasure his considerable potential and protect him as much as possible.

As a result, Walcott has been able to focus on his football and focus on developing his skills under the guidance of Wenger and alongside some wonderful players. As he said himself after scoring twice against Slavia Prague, 18 months with Henry represented the best education money can buy and now he is part of a young squad growing in stature in the absence of their former captain.

Wenger invited the media to watch his squad train on Monday and they are a joy to observe. They play with such pace, pass with so much precision — so superior to the England internationals who borrow their training ground during the build-up to internationals at Wembley.

Walcott was born with pace and natural ability with the ball but at Arsenal he is beginning to apply the finishing touches. He has awareness that was missing two years ago, as well as a better touch and a more deadly finish. These strengths enable him to play on either flank as well as down the middle.

"The boss signed me as a striker and I think that is where I will end up playing," said Walcott, who dedicated his goal to Luke Amos, the brother of his brother-in-law who died recently when only 20.

"But I can play anywhere and that helps."

He reflects on the last two years with great maturity and a degree of understatement.

"It was an eventful summer-last year," he said. "Nobody expected it, myself included, but it was a good experience for me. But I've also been with Arsenal for nearly two years now and I've been working really hard.

"At the World Cup I wasn't going to go knocking on the manager's door and asking why I wasn't in the team. I was only 17 and hadn't even played in the Premiership when I went to Germany. But it was good experience to train with world class players and see the way they handled themselves on match days and on the pitch.

"I wanted to play for Arsenal when I got here. Everyone's the same. But I was only 17 and I didn't want to play too much and get injuries. The boss has done brilliantly with me and now

"I'm a bit stronger and wiser and ready to push on. I trained with Thierry Henry for a year and a half, and I've trained with Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor as well and being with world-class strikers has to help my game."

The best advice he ever had, though, came from someone a little less high-profile.

"When I was at Southampton Andy Ritchie always told me to pass into the net with power," said Walcott. Ritchie, like so many others, will be delighted with his progress.