England forward Theo Walcott will miss this year’s World Cup in Brazil after being ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury.

Walcott suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup win at home to arch north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

An Arsenal statement said Walcott is “expected to be out for at least six months, therefore missing the remainder of the (English) season and the World Cup in Brazil in the summer”.