London, Jan 7

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott will rest for at least six months and miss the World Cup in Brazil, the Premier League side announced here.

"After coming off injured in Saturday's 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, the Club regrettably announces that Theo Walcott has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee," Xinhua quoted from a statement by the club Monday.

"Theo will have surgery in London in the near future and is expected to be out for at least six months, therefore missing the remainder of the season and the World Cup in Brazil in the summer."

Walcott twisted his knee while making a tackle in the closing stages of the 2-0 win at the Emirates, but he did not appear in serious pain as he left the field on a stretcher and even signaled "2-0" to the Tottenham fans.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had already been without strikers Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner, both also having suffered injuries.

By:IANS