Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has left open claims that Theo Walcott was targeted by Birmingham City on Saturday.

Walcott is out for three weeks with knee damage after coming off second best in a challenge with Brum defender Liam Ridgewell.

Wenger was asked whether he felt Ridgewell had set out to harm Walcott.

"Only the player knows," he said. "I think the second part of the challenge did the damage. It is a double tackle. The first part is a very good tackle but the second leg was more dangerous. He cut through with his second leg.

"I don't want to believe that Walcott is targeted but I know how the game is in England. Eduardo got hit and injured on the first tackle [in the third minute against Birmingham in February 2008]."