Theo sets the benchmark for Arsene contenders

Waiting for the niggling injuries that have interrupted his career at Arsenal to clear up. Waiting for a regular run in the first team. And waiting for another crack with England.

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One small step will naturally lead to another, but the £ 12million forward has been making huge strides in recent weeks.

He sparkled in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the Carling Cup last month and shrugged off the embarrassment of a miscued effort against Sunderland two weeks ago to skip down the wing and create the winner for Robin van Persie.

Walcott breathed life into Arsenal's sluggish performance when he came off the substitutes' bench against Bolton last Saturday and Wenger spent his 58th birthday on Monday contemplating giving the 18-year-old a starting role up front alongside Emmanuel Adebayor against Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

'He looks ready for a fight and it looks to me that he is back to his best,' said boss Wenger. 'Football is not as easy as people made it look for him, but he is intelligent and he realises that.

'When a guy comes on and makes a difference to the team, he doesn't stay a long time as a substitute. That is normal. That is what is so good about the attitude of our players because they come on with a real desire to affect the game.

'As long as you have that, you have a good chance of winning. The next step for Theo is to be consistent, not to be injured, to score goals, affect games and play well away from home.'

The former Southampton starlet lost his form last season after suffering a dislocated shoulder. Walcott scored the opening goal in the ill-tempered Carling Cup Final defeat to Chelsea with the sweetest of finishes in February, but the injury deteriorated in the weeks that followed.

He underwent surgery on damaged ligaments in March and a full recovery has coincided with a return to form.

Wenger said: 'It takes some time to get back to your best after a shoulder injury because of your co-ordination. It looks nothing but I've noticed that it takes longer than you think to recover because the balance is affected.

'When Theo first came back from injury, for a while we couldn't understand why a guy who was so fast had lost his pace because of his shoulder, but it affected his co-ordination when he ran.'

Wenger will be without Robin van Persie for six weeks after the striker damaged knee ligaments during Holland's Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia last Wednesday and there are concerns about Eduardo da Silva after another unconvincing performance on Saturday.

Wenger said: 'Eduardo needs games and confidence. He will be in and out, but will get chances in the next few weeks. He's still not back to his best as he's been injured.

'Theo's strengths are his movement off the ball and that will be better for him if he plays through the middle.'

The chance for Walcott to emulate the achievements of his idol Thierry Henry will eventually come, but his career at the Emirates Stadium is only just beginning to flourish and he is on a steep learning curve.

Arsenal skipper William Gallas said: 'Theo will make mistakes because he is young. I don't know whether he will be ready in two months or a year, but it will be soon. He has improved a lot but what I like about him is that he wants to learn.'

Walcott may be impatient, but a glance along the substitutes' bench will remind him of the company he is beginning to keep.

Gilberto Silva, who captained Brazil to success in the Copa America in July, has been sitting next to him and Jens Lehmann, No 1 for his country but not for his club, will also be on the sidelines again.

Wenger added: 'Gilberto and Lehmann are not happy, but their attitude in training is certainly spot on. My biggest job is to win the next game, but my players are professional and they act professionally.

'They are fighting for their places.'

ARSENAL (4-4-2, probable): Almunia; Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy; Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky; Walcott, Adebayor.

SLAVIA PRAGUE (4-5-1): Vaniak; Drizdal, Sourek, Suchy, Hebacek; Krajcik, Svec, Janda, Belaid, Pudil; Vlcek.

Referee: Stefano Farina (Italy).

TV: ITV4, 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45).