How Will Theo Walcott Be Remembered At Arsenal?

Theo Walcott was the hottest youngster when he joined Arsenal for £12m from Southampton in the summer of 2010 holding the record for the most expensive signing of a British 16-year-old.  Such was the youngster's promise that he became the Youngest player to ever  play for the Three Lions at the time (17 years, 75 days). In his 11 years at the club , Walcott has scored an astonishing 108 goals in 397 appearances for the Gunners. At Arsenal , the attacker won two FA Cups as well as earning 47 caps for the Three Lions scoring eight goals in the process as well as playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012.

Despite all these achievements, Walcott will always be remembered as a player who never lived up to his potential. At 28 presently, the attacker finds himself behind the likes of Anthony Lacazette, Danny Welbeck, and even academy graduate Alex Iwobi who only made the senior side in 2015. What this entails is that the longest Arsenal player has become almost surplus to requirements  barely struggling to play six games this season mostly coming from the bench (68 minutes of EPL actions all three as substitutes).  In reality , Walcott has become a regular starter in cup competitions as evidenced from his regular appearance in the League Cup and Europa League. So how did things get this bad for the promising youngster who at one point was compared to French legend Thierry Henry?

First and foremost though he has struggled in the final third with decision making, often choosing the wrong option after creating chances; injuries have often held him back during his time in Arsenal . With the pace that could match that of a bullet , Walcott was at the time the fastest winger in the Premier League , running down defenders and exploiting spaces in defences until his anterior cruciate ligament injury in the FA Cup game against Spurs in January 2014. Such was his form before that sad injury that he had  recorded five goals in five games going into the game . As if that wasn't enough the emergence of Oliver Giroud as the vocal point of Arsenal's attack relegated him to the wings which also saw the likes of Alexis
Sanchez and Mesut Ozil block his chances since last season's switch to a 3-4-3 formation .

Also not to be ignored is his last season's appearance of 28 (10 goals and recording two assists). Often favouring the no.9 position rather than playing on the wings, the Englishman never really grew his game lacking  the decisive final pass or touch which is what often separates average players from the very best . With a very impressive 2012/2013 season (14 goals and 10 assists in 32 league games - Arsenal's top scorer) to look back on, Walcott surely knows that at 28, he is entering his peak period and must become that player his potential showed he come become while at Everton after the Toffees paid around £20m for him  although that is a big ask considering he will be playing under a defensive minded Sam Allardyce who favours defence and physicality over offence so often .