Keane: Walcott still has a lot to prove

The ever-controversial Keane was quick to play down the hype surrounding the Arsenal winger.

Walcott has scored five goals in seven games in all competitions this season, but Keane claimed that it had taken a decade for the former Southampton youngster to settle at the Emirates Stadium.

"It has taken him [Walcott] a while to settle at the club, hasn't it? Ten years?" Keane told 'ITV'. "Listen, the guy needs to relax - he has had a good week.

"Try playing well for the next seven, eight, nine months when the real, big crunch games come.

"I wouldn't get carried away about Walcott. He has got a lot to do. He's got to keep doing it over the next year or two".

The Irishman also said that he thought the Basel match was a perfect match for Arsenal to showcase their attractive football, but questioned the players' mentality to perform in more difficult matches, especially in winter.

"You talk about certain players [playing well] - this [the Basel win] was a lovely game for Arsenal," he added. "When they are in that form and have that possession, they are great to watch.

"They could have scored seven, eight, nine goals easily - a joy to watch - but the crunch games are coming up for them over the next few months, when the cold nights come in.

"We will see half the Arsenal players with their gloves on".