Wesley Okoduwa: Former Arsenal Star Theo Walcott Praises Teen's Appearance in Wolves Matchday Squad

• Theo Walcott was happy to see Wesley Okoduwa in the Wolverhampton squad
• The young England Under-17 international was called up by coach Garu O'Neil
• Five teenagers were present in the team that lost to Arsenal at the Molineux

Gunners icon, Theo Walcott, was delighted to see 15-year-old Wesley Okoduwa included in Wolverhampton Wanderers' matchday squad for their Premier League fixture against Arsenal at the Molineux Stadium on Saturday, April 20.

If he had played, Okoduwa would have made history as the youngest player to represent Wolves in the Premier League.

Wolves manager Gary O'Neil had to include five teenagers in the squad due to an injury-plagued team.

Among them were defensive-minded players Okoduwa and Temple Ojinnaka, both eligible to represent Nigeria.

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Walcott, a surprise inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad for the 2006 World Cup at age 17, holds the record for being the youngest player ever to represent the country. He broke into the Southampton first team at 16 before joining Arsenal on scholarship terms in January 2006.

"I think Gary O'Neil's done a fantastic job, but I'm looking at this 15-year-old. It's going to be very interesting. He's very well excited. I'm just looking at my experience when I came through the scene. Fearless, enjoy the day," he said, as quoted by All Nigeria Soccer.

Wolves face a challenge to retain the Anglo-Nigerian defender, whose schoolboy registration expires on June 30. Manchester United are among the clubs monitoring his situation ahead of next season.

O'Neil was proud of his players after the defeat to Mikel Arteta's side at home, despite the team missing many senior players on the day.

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“It was an incredible performance and one of my favourites, considering how tough I thought it would be for us. For the lads to show the togetherness, commitment, and work rate to push Arsenal as hard as we did, I thought it was an incredible effort from everyone," he said, as the club's website reported.

Walcott names a player quicker than him

Sports Brief reported that Walcott reckoned one underrated player would cause him pace problems.

One of his most renowned attributes was his frightening pace, which always left defenders clutching at straws.

In his heyday, he could take on almost anyone in a foot race on the football pitch and is said to have reached speeds of up to 35 kilometres per hour.