The 17-year old teenage sensation who made his debut for Arsenal in 2006 was destined for great things. 11 years down the line and Theo Walcott is just another bit-part Arsenal player. The once-promising career of the England international never took off and Walcott has been limited to start from the bench on most occasions in the last few seasons.
Walcott’s move from Southampton came with great expectations and he made it count in his early days by bursting down the right flank and ghosting past defenders. His pace on the ball terrified every fullback and add to that his knack for finishing off moves with goals, which 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. He has been at Arsenal for over 11 years and has failed to nail down a starting spot throughout his spell at the club. Gareth Southgate surely does not consider Walcott for he has better options available and Wenger still chooses to introduce Walcott as an impact sub or a domestic cup match player.
If Walcott 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 situation with Walcott does not suit Wenger either and Arsenal could be ready to offload the player with West Ham United interested in the player.
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 say that West Ham United are keen on Walcott while his former club Southampton are said to be open to a transfer deal.
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. He would surely be adding a lot of attacking flair to the West Ham United that has been found wanting in the final third this season.
