Arsene Wenger has told David Bentley to mind his own business after the Blackburn winger urged Theo Walcott to quit Arsenal.

Bentley yesterday claimed the only way Walcott will fulfil his potential is by leaving the Emirates Stadium.

England star Bentley has blossomed since leaving Arsenal for Blackburn two years ago.

And he said: “Your career doesn’t start and end at Arsenal. It can flourish somewhere else.

“If you want to make a career for yourself you can’t afford to stay at a club where you might be 24 or 25 with only 30 games under your belt.

“You need games to become better. If Theo is not getting the minutes at Arsenal, he’s going to have to look elsewhere.”

But Gunners boss Wenger wasted no time in having a pop back.

Wenger snapped: “David Bentley is entitled to his opinions but it doesn’t mean he is right and I don’t give a big importance to what he says.

“I don’t know why one player should incite another to leave his club. That is not his job.
Better player

"When you are at one of the biggest clubs in the world, you have to accept competition.

"If you do, you become a better player. If you move down to another club, you’re no longer at the top.”

Bentley, 23, spent eight years at Arsenal but only played one League game for the club before joining Blackburn on loan at the start of the 2005-06 season.

He moved to Ewood Park on a permanent basis in January 2006 — 10 days after fellow winger Walcott signed for Arsenal — and is now a full England star.

In the meantime, Walcott has started only 11 League games for Arsenal and netted his first Premier League goals less than a fortnight ago.

Wenger, though, insisted: “Bentley’s situation was completely different to Theo’s. All that matters is that Theo progresses well and I believe he will establish himself at Arsenal.

“People forget he is still very young and that it is difficult for any 18-year-old to play in a regular position for one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Unfortunately for Walcott, he will not get the chance to continue his progress away to Wigan on Sunday after suffering a thigh strain during a friendly match against Colorado Rapids yesterday.

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