Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has blasted the critics of winger Theo Walcott.

As Wenger prepared for tomorrow's home clash with Sunderland, he launched a passionate defence of Walcott.

He said: "When you look at Theo, he's a player who you think sometimes 'He could have contributed more', but then you think 'Who scored the goal? Him'.

"Or 'Who made the pass? It's him'. He's a player who is very efficient. Theo has made progress as a team player. He works very hard. He's naturally a guy who thinks forwards and is working harder for the team.

"You feel now there is a real desire to play with others, which was his weak point a little bit.

"There is a bit of a problem in England. As much as I feel the Press protect the players in the club, they put them under too much pressure in the national team.

"Sometimes at the clubs the players are over-protected but in the national team the pressure is unbelievable. In England your expectation level is too high."