Walcott may start for Arsenal in Henry's absence

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the time may have come to give teenager Theo Walcott a start in the Premier League.

Walcott impressed in midweek when he came off the bench to help Arsenal beat Hamburg in the Champions League and with captain Thierry Henry missing tomorrow's game at Bolton through injury, Wenger is considering playing Walcott in his place.

''I don't know whether I will start with Theo. It depends on what inspiration I get in Bolton before the game,'' Wenger told reporters today.

''Theo is getting closer and I understand people's desperation to see him start but it's up to me to manage him well and at the moment he is making a good impact off the bench.'' Despite Walcott's progress, Wenger feels too much is being expected of him after his shock selection in England's World Cup squad.

''There's a lot of expectation. I feel the boy is under a lot of pressure, because if he plays and doesn't deliver, people are very, very aggressive with him. That was already the case,'' Wenger said.

''There is a strange attitude with Theo. People can quickly be negative about him because they still think as he went to the World Cup at 17 years of age he must be a superstar.

''He is surprisingly level-headed. He makes no demands on you. He is a very intelligent boy because he analyses very well what happens with him. He's humble, listens and wants to learn so it is positive.'' Reuters DH VP0032