Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb insists it has come as no surprise to see Theo Walcott enjoy a mercurial rise through the Gunners ranks and into Fabio Capello's England side.

Hleb, now at Barcelona after his £13million move over the summer, is aware that his departure has enabled Arsene Wenger to set the 19-year-old prodigy loose, and the youngster has so far excelled.

"Theo's success with the England side has come as no surprise,” said the Belarus international.

"He is a player who needed some continuity, and if he gets that then Capello will be able to generate much more success with his side.

"In my time at Arsenal you could see from an early stage he was a player with serious potential. But his development was complicated and his chances of getting in the team were not helped by the number of quality players we had in the squad.

"It's normal to have only five or six attacking players in the side at one time.

"But now Wenger is giving him more minutes on the pitch and his football is progressing as a result."

Hleb could come face to face with his right-wing successor on Wednesday if the 27-year-old is passed fit for Belarus as they prepare to face England their World Cup qualifier.

[Guardian-Series]

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