Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Theo Walcott's development was slowed over the kicking he took when younger.

Walcott was impressive in yesterday's win over Burnley.

"You put yourself in the mind of a player at 17 years of age who runs 100 metres in 11 seconds: what do people do? He got some tackles against Ridgewell this year where there was no intention to play the ball," Wenger said.

"You know every time you will get the ball people will just try to stop you at any cost.

"It's difficult to take when you're 18 if you know always the intention of the guy who comes against you is to stop you, to get your pace. Now he starts to deal well with that."