Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger maintains Fabio Capello’s decision to leave Theo Walcott out of the England World Cup was a mistake.

The 21-year-old was a shock omission from the final 23-man squad for South Africa, as the Italian coach instead preferred Manchester City’s Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon.

However, after the Three Lions’ wretched World Cup campaign - which ended with a 4-1 defeat to Germany in the last 16 - the Gunners forward, who had struggled with injury last season, looks set to be brought back into the fold for the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Walcott was part of the Under-21 squad which reached the final of their European Championship campaign during the summer of 2009 and also an unused member of the senior 2006 World Cup party.

Wenger believes the former Southampton star could have made the difference for England in South Africa.

Speaking to Kenya newspaper The Standard, Wenger said: “It was a big mistake.

”Walcott is a player who can change a game upside down in the second half in your favour.

”He has speed and can cause a lot of problems for the opponents.”