Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists Theo Walcott can make it at Emirates stadium - despite dropping him for Saturday's victory over Fulham.

The teenager is set to return to the side for tonight's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Tottenham and Wenger said: "People asked me 'do you expect more from him?' I said of course because I cannot expect less from an 18-year-old player and I believe that he is like every player and wants to play in every game.

"I am amazed that people are surprised that he is a little bit frustrated when he doesn't play.

"It is part of his job and part of his improvement."

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "Overall I am very happy with him, I have said many times that he will be a player through the middle, a striker, because the timing of his runs, the quality of his runs is fantastic and he is clinical finisher.

"The time he spends on the right will help him became a fantastic striker."