Walcott joined the Gunners for £12million 18 months ago from Southampton.
Wenger said: “I think this could be Walcott’s year. The learning process was quick and he has matured. Now he is ready to really have a go. He never looked to me as if all the attention was bothering him, but you are not inside him.
“I’m sure it was too much for him, though. Even before he was in the team there was a lot of expectation on him.
“I was surprised last week that nobody talked about Walcott at all when there was a striker crisis with England. That is the first time that has happened.”
