Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is adamant he will not rush Theo Walcott's return from injury.

Wenger revealed there was "a chance", albeit perhaps slim, the former Southampton trainee will start at the head of the frontline on Sunday against Chelsea.

However, it is a role which the Arsenal manager feels Walcott - with high hopes of making Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa - will grow into naturally.

"The only thing I would say with Theo is that every time I have rushed him back he has got injured again. This time I have decided to take the time to get him completely 100 per cent fit to come back," said Wenger, clearly irked by the 20-year-old's lack of availability this season after a busy summer with England Under-21s and an early campaign blighted by fitness problems.

"Theo can play central, I am very conscious of that because of the quality of his runs and the timing of his runs, the other part he can work on."

Wenger maintained: "I believe he has all the assets to be a fantastic central player.

"What he needs to work on to play in this kind of position is the back to goal.

"At the moment his strengths are central to the counter-attacking role rather than the distribution role. That is what he has to add to his game."