Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains convinced former Saints star Theo Walcott has the talent to become a "fantastic striker."

The teenager is set to return to the side for tonight's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Tottenham, having been rested from the Premier League trip to Fulham.

Wenger accepts Walcott, who turns 19 in March, is not where he was expected to be two years after his switch from Saints to Arsenal, but maintains "he will get there."

It has certainly been an interesting start to his Gunners career for the former Southampton trainee, who found himself thrust into the media spotlight following a big-money move and subsequent controversial inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's ill-fated 2006 World Cup squad before then being hampered by a shoulder problem.

Walcott now has more than 50 first-team appearances under his belt, and netted what could prove to be a vital goal as the first leg ended 1-1 at Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago.

The England under-21 forward looks set to be handed another run-out in a central attacking role alongside Nicklas Bendtner at White Hart Lane and Wenger is in no doubt Walcott has got what it takes to make the grade at the highest level.

Wenger reflected: "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 added: "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 a clinical finisher.

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