Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels that Theo Walcott is ready to make his return to the starting lineup after being cautious with the winger following his return from injury.
The 25-year-old tore his anterior cruciate ligament early in 2014 and was ruled out until November, when he made his return against Burnley.
However, since then Walcott has made just four starts for the Gunners as Wenger was keen for the England international to rebuild his match fitness, and now feels that he is ready to become a regular fixture in his lineup once again.
Wenger told the club's official website: "He is all right now. With the cruciate, before the age of 25 you come back and you continue to develop normally. A cruciate after 28 is much more problematic.
"No [there will not be any long-term issues]. He is a natural athlete and a sprinter, and a very straight-line sprinter. He is ready now to play games. But when a player has been out for a year, when he comes back he always thinks he is ready.
"When you speak to him three weeks later and ask him if he thinks he really was ready [before] he says, 'Now I realise, no'. I have been holding him back because he has been out for a long time and for the fact there is intense competition."
The Gunners play West Ham United in the Premier League later today.
Simon Sinclair
