England squad: Theo Walcott's frequent dips in form gave Roy Hodgson little choice

A month ago, in the corridor at The Emirates, Arsene Wenger was speaking about Theo Walcott, who had missed out on selection in the league win over West Bromwich Albion, and was praising his work ethic and dedication.

“I think Theo has gone through a bad spell,” the Arsenal manager said, “and has responded very well because he has said: ‘I will work harder and more’. Even when he comes on now he is motivated and focused. Let’s see how well he finishes the season now.”

Not well enough for Roy Hodgson. The England manager Hodgson used the line that Walcott simply did not have enough minutes to his name in an Arsenal shirt this season to warrant inclusion in his England squad for the Euros.

The 27-year-old made 15 league starts for Arsenal this season and 13 times came off the bench. His club-mate Jack Wilshere made one league start and came off the bench twice. And we know which one is off to France.

Hodgson often talks of staying loyal to the players that propelled the team to the European Championships, these are the ones with credit in the bank, he says. Walcott scored twice in England’s 6-0 win in San Marino in September last year and once in the 2-0 home win over Estonia a month later as the team produced their perfect 10.

Truth is, Hodgson had little choice. Walcott is in one of his oft-visited dips in form, potholes in his career path that seem to be getting more frequent not less. He is so out of nick that Andros Townsend, who was relegated with Newcastle despite an impressive end to the season on an individual note, is ahead of him in the England manager’s mind.

Walcott became England’s youngest player when he featured against Hungary in May 2006 aged 17 years and 75 days. Sven Goran Eriksson, of course, then took him to that summer’s World Cup where he didn’t kick a ball in anger - but was immersed in the environment he was clearly destined to become so used to. Ten years later he has 43 caps to his name and eight goals and missed out on the 2010 World Cup due to another form nosedive.

Of course, injuries have played their part but Walcott’s career appears to be stagnating, the problem periods becoming more frequent not less. He has been with the Gunners for a decade but has he delivered on all that early promise that forced the club to spend £12m on him? Has he truly improved markedly during that time? It is hard to argue that he has - for which surely the Arsenal coaching staff are partly responsible. There have been flashes of brilliance, the odd hat-trick, he even looked promising when he came against Manchester City in the Gunners’ penultimate league match of this season - but then he tweaked a hamstring and missed the season finale. High to low, in a week.

Walcott is likeable, polite, well-spoken and never shirks his media duties. And it is clear Wenger shares these sentiments but perhaps the time is right for the player to seek a fresh start at a new club after this week’s hammer blow of missing out on the England squad. Indeed, the Hammers are said to be keen. But Wenger is not one to lose faith (look how long he persevered with Abou Diaby) and Walcott - as his manager so often points out about players who are 27-28 - is at the age where he should be at his peak.

Trouble is, Walcott’s form is all too frequently in a trough.