voldemort

The Daily Mail has revealed that Arsene Wenger is considering a loan spell at another club for his young forward, Theo Walcott, as he assesses the implications of Tuesday night's 5-1 rout by rivals Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final.

The newspaper adds that Arsenal contacted a number of Barclays Premier League clubs on Wednesday about the prospects of their taking Walcott, 18, on loan until the end of the season.

Ominously, Wenger has indicated that the manner of Arsenal's heavy Carling Cup defeat had shown him 'who was not ready for the first team,' and Walcott's position at the club is thought to be vulnerable with the transfer window still open.

Wenger still believes that Walcott, who cost Arsenal £13million from Southampton as a highly coveted 16-year-old, can become a top-class striker.

But he is losing patience after Walcott's anonymous showing in the semi-final second leg at White Hart Lane.

Although Walcott scored the Gunners' equaliser in the first leg at the Emirates, he made noi impression at all in the second as Ledley King had him in his pocket.

Wenger eventually took Walcott off in the 65th minute.

His progress has been erratic at Arsenal, with tantalising glimpses of his potential - such as against Slavia Prague, when he scored twice as Arsenal ran riot to win their Champions League clash 7-0 - punctated by ineffectual no-shows such as at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Walcott's confidence is probably in a fragile state at the moment, with Wenger yet to trust him enough to offer a prolonged spell in the first team.

And unusually, the French manager criticised the ex-Southampton starlet last week, saying: "He is not where I would like him to be," a point he reinforced by leaving Walcott out of the squad altogether at Fulham.

Given that Walcott has struggled to match the weight of expectation and hype that has surrounded him since he joined Arsenal, a loan deal may suit be benefial all round.

However, there could be a problem regarding Walcott's position on the pitch. According to The Mail's report, one of the Premier League clubs Arsenal contacted want him to play on the right wing for them, whereas Wenger is insisting he be played as a striker.

source:goal.com