Highs and Lows of Theo Walcott's 10 Years with Arsenal
Theo Walcott marked 10 years at Arsenal on Wednesday, and we're celebrating the occasion with a look at some of the player's most indelible moments at the club.
Since signing for Arsenal as a 16-year-old on Jan. 20, 2006, Walcott has enjoyed quite a few highs with Arsenal, scoring 81 goals in 326 appearances. But it hasn't always been smooth sailing, and in this slideshow, we've collected not just his best moments, but also some of his worst.
Did we leave anything out? Share your favorite Walcott memories in the comments section.
High: Signing on at 16
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When Arsenal signed the 16-year-old Theo Walcott from Southampton on Jan. 20, 2006, the player had made just 13 starts for the second tier club. But his stock had risen sharply the previous October, when Walcott scored in quick succession against Leeds United, Millwall and Stoke City, as noted by Sky Sports.
The Gunners paid £5 million up front for the teenager, with add-ons making the deal potentially worth £12.5 million, according to BBC Sport.
"I am so pleased to be joining Arsenal—a club I have admired for a long time," Walcott said, per BBC Sport. "Coming to Arsenal will give me the opportunity to work with world-class players every day and play football at the highest possible level."
Manager Arsene Wenger, who had initially spotted the player in the 2004-05 FA Youth Cup Final, expressed his delight after beating Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool to the signing.
"Theo Walcott is a very young player but has already shown in his performances for Southampton that he is a talented player with huge potential," Wenger said, per BBC Sport. "I also like the fact that he is a versatile player who is incredibly dedicated, shows great determination to succeed and is blessed with electric pace."
Then-Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp, who managed Walcott at Southampton, could hardly contain his disappointment.
"The kid can run through puddles and not make a splash," he said, per Sky Sports. "He's lightning; he drifts over the ground and is a fantastic talent. Wherever he goes I'm sure he's got a great future."
High: Assist on Debut
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Walcott's debut came the following August in Arsenal's 2006-07 Premier League opener, which was coincidentally the Gunners' first league match at the Emirates Stadium.
Aston Villa captain Olof Mellberg headed the visitors in front in the 53rd minute, but Walcott—in the match as a 73rd-minute substitute for Fredrik Ljungberg—assisted the equalizer with a cross from the left. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
High and Low: First Arsenal Goal, but Cup Disappointment
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Walcott picked an excellent moment to score his first goal for Arsenal—the 2007 Carling Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. In the 12th minute, with the match still scoreless, the 17-year-old Walcott coasted past Ricardo Carvalho and finished calmly past future teammate Petr Cech to give the young Gunners side a 1-0 advantage.
The match seemed to be playing out well for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, but Chelsea turned it around thanks to Didier Drogba's double and won 2-1. A scuffle broke out near the end of the match, and three players—two from Arsenal—were sent off by referee Howard Webb.
Low: Shoulder Injury on England Duty
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While on international duty with England in November of 2008, Walcott suffered a dislocated shoulder. He would remain out of action until the following April, halting his progress temporarily after establishing himself as a regular in Arsenal's first team.
Further injuries in the coming seasons would threaten to derail Walcott's career. In September 2010, after Walcott had missed time with back, knee and hamstring issues, Wenger told BBC Sport: "It is frustrating for him. You never know what kind of psychological impact it has. The mental side is always a question mark when a player gets injuries."
High: North London Derby Recovery
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In February of 2012, Arsenal fell two goals behind rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby. The home fans at the Emirates began to boo Walcott, but he silenced the jeers with a pair of strikes as the Gunners turned a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 victory.
After Bacary Sagna, Robin van Persie and Tomas Rosicky scored to give Arsenal the lead, Walcott sealed the comeback with two goals in three second-half minutes.
Highs: Memorable Hat-Tricks
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Walcott bagged his first Arsenal hat-trick in a 6-0 demolition of Blackpool in August 2010. According to his manager, Walcott's performances were providing strong evidence of progress.
"What was pleasing today with Theo was that he made right decision in final third and was calm in front of goal," Wenger told BBC Sport. "He could finish but also give final balls. That shows he improves."
Another memorable hat-trick followed in Arsenal's wild 7-5 victory over Reading in an October 2012 Capital One Cup match. The Gunners had trailed 4-0 in the 35th minute, but Walcott kick-started the comeback with his first strike of the match in first-half stoppage time.
He then scored in added time of both the second half and extra time to seal progression to the quarter-finals.
Low: More Injury Misery
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Walcott returned from an abdominal injury in late 2013 hoping to make a renewed impact, but his latest injury misery was yet to come. In January 2014, the 24-year-old sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 2-0 FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The club announced he would miss six months, ruling him out of the rest of the domestic season, as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He actually missed 10 months, returning to action in a 3-0 win over Burnley in November.
"Theo is gutted," Walcott's father, Don, told the Sun (h/t Dominic Fifield at The Guardian). "He couldn't believe it and I think he was still in shock when he told me. … He didn't think it was too bad after the game but it was worse than everybody thought."
If there was one positive for Walcott and Arsenal fans, it's that he went out in style. At the time of his injury, the Gunners were leading Tottenham 2-0 in another heated north London derby. Facing jeers and taunts from the traveling supporters, Walcott responded with a hand gesture that reminded them of the scoreline.
High: FA Cup Final Goal
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Walcott's injury layoff in 2014 meant he missed the FA Cup final, which saw Arsenal come back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Hull City 3-2. But his long comeback culminated with a goal in the same event 12 months later as the Gunners lifted the trophy for the second straight season.
This time, the game didn't feature nearly as much drama, with Arsenal defeating Aston Villa 4-0. Walcott broke the deadlock with a fine goal in the 40th minute, smashing in a volley at the near post to set the Gunners on their way.
Walcott had played only occasionally up to that time, with Wenger opting instead for Olivier Giroud for much of the run-in. But this goal propelled Walcott back into the manager's plans, and he subsequently enjoyed a good run of form at the start of the 2015-16 season.
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