Arsene Wenger has revealed that he considered substituting double-goalscorer Theo Walcott to spare the winger from the abuse he was receiving from angry Arsenal fans.
The 22-year-old was jeered by some Gunners fans during the first half of their 5-2 win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The England international had appeared to be low on confidence, but Wenger kept faith with him after the break and Walcott rewarded the Frenchman by scoring twice to cap an astonishing comeback from 2-0 down.
"The crowd were starting to get on his back and you wonder if you're doing him a favour if you leave him on," Wenger told The Mirror.
"But I felt that he has the qualities that, considering the rest of the team were hiding, could help him to get in behind the defenders.
"Nobody else is like that. He is a very direct player. He can miss a first touch but, considering the balance of the team, it was important to keep him in the side."
Walcott added: "You always have to get on with the game when things are not going too well.
"I can hold my hands up and say I didn't have the greatest of first halves.
"But it just shows the character, not just me but of the team. I'm trying to forget about that and focus on what happened in the second half."
Walcott has scored eight goals in 35 Arsenal appearances this season.
Robert Summerscales
