Theo Walcott, a 17-year old teenage sensation who made his debut for Arsenal in 2006 was destined for great things. 11 years down the line and Walcott is just another bit-part Arsenal player. The once-promising career of the England international simply never took off and Theo remained just another England international who was once destined for greatness.
Walcott’s £5m move from Southampton came with great expectation and he made it count in his early days by bursting down the right flank, ghosting past defenders. His pace on the ball terrified every fullback and add to that his knack of finishing off moves with goals made him a nightmare for the opposition manager.
A career that once promised so much has been blighted by injuries, inconsistent performances and a lack of winning mentality. Theo Walcott is now 28-years old, and far away from featuring for the Three Lions in the upcoming World Cup. He has been at Arsenal for over 11 years and has failed to consistently nail down a starting spot throughout his spell at the club.
If the winger still does hold serious ambition to play for England in next year’s World Cup in Russia, he will need regular game time which is unlikely to come at Arsenal. This leaves the former England star with a hard choice to make. He must decide to seek his fortunes elsewhere if he is to feature regularly for a team.
Walcott is said to be open-minded about his future after accepting an Arsenal exit could be best for his career at this stage. The 28-year-old started on the bench for Arsenal recently in their game against Brighton. He came on for Alexandre Lacazette with 20 minutes left but failed to make an impact.
The situation with Walcott does not suit Wenger either and according to reports by Daily Star, the Gunners boss could be ready to cut him loose in the New Year. It is claimed time is running out for Walcott to prove himself, with the Arsenal manager ready to make him available for transfer if there is no upturn in form.
There are several clubs interested in signing the 28-year old. Reports by Daily Star say West Ham United and Crystal Palace are keen on Walcott while Everton could also swoop in if the player becomes available.
His former club Southampton are also said to be open to a transfer deal.
His move to West Ham United will have no doubt excite the fans at the club. The Hammers already boast of an attack with multiple options with forwards like Javier Hernandez, Andre Ayew, Diafra Sakho playing for the club. The competition in the wings is also likely to keep Walcott on his heels with players like Lanzini, Arnautovic and Michail Antonio playing for the club.
The West Ham United transfer could be a win-win situation for both the player and the club. He will inject some much needed refreshment at the club and hopefully, he can help the club out of the tight position they currently find themselves in. With the 2018 World Cup coming up, impressive performances from the England star will surely help him find a place on the plane to Russia.
One can only hope no matter where he plays, we get to see the best of Theo, the flashy winger who made his defenders chase his shadow.
