Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he may send teenage forward Theo Walcott out on loan.

Wenger signed Walcott from Southampton two years ago when he was just 16 years old, for a fee that could eventually rise to £12 million.

However, Walcott has only enjoyed sporadic spells in the first team, mainly in cup games, and is yet to score in the Premier League.

The striker was one of a number of young Arsenal players in the side that was humiliated in the 5-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi final, calling into question the strength in depth of the Gunners squad.

Wenger revealed that some of his young players including Walcott, who gained wider fame when he was controversially named in England's 2006 World Cup squad, may follow the likes of team mates Nicklas Bendtner, Johan Djourou and Justin Hoyte with a loan move to another Premier League club in order to gain more first team experience.

Wenger said: "There is a gap here between playing in the reserves and our first team.

"So I try to loan them to another club, to get them ready."

Eurosport