Getting angry has transformed Theo Walcott into a key player for both Arsenal and England, says Gunners goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The 19-year-old netted a stunning hat-trick against Croatia last month and has been hailed by national coach Fabio Capello as the future of English football.

Walcott is in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus with Almunia claiming the forward is flying because he won't be bullied now.

“Theo was too nice maybe in the last two years, but this season you can see that when he gets tackled he gets furious, and that shows you he has changed,” said Almunia.

“When he used to take a tackle he did not reply with anything, he did not say anything to the referee or the opposing player. He would get tackled and stay on the floor, and he would never say anything. Now I like him more on the field.
“I try to help everybody who comes to me and Theo is very nice. Sometimes he likes to speak to more experienced players, older players like me.

“I just spoke with him once, I told him he had to be a bit more aggressive and not so nice on the pitch because if people can kill you they will do so.

“Theo is now beautiful playing football. To me he is like a machine, it's unbelievable.”

Capello is just as impressed but called for fans to be patient with the forward.

He said: “When you find young players like this, good players, interesting players at the top level he has to play with the seniors. Age is not important, what's important is the quality, the confidence. I think we have to wait and treat Walcott like the normal players. Sometimes there will be a fantastic performance other times it will be normal and others not good — so I substitute him.

“I will help him when the performance is not good and that is the most important thing.”

While Walcott is in the squad for Saturday's game at Wembley and the trip to Minsk four days later, one notable absentee from the party is Michael Owen.

The 28-year-old's omission suggests that the Newcastle striker will not add to his 89 caps while Capello is in charge.

Portsmouth pair Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch are both included but Chelsea's Joe Cole and Blackburn's Paul Robinson are absent through injury. Fulham's Jimmy Bullard has also missed out as Steven Gerrard has returned from his groin problem.