After 12 long years, Theo Walcott finally left Arsenal on Wednesday, completing a £20million move from North London to join Sam Allardyce at Everton. The England international successfully completed a medical and put pen-to-paper on a three-year-and-half deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until June 2021.
Despite the 28-year-old managing 108 goals in 397 appearances for Arsenal, he never unlocked his real potential and pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Liverpool aided Everton to sign the former Southampton teenager.
The former Liverpool midfielder claims that seeing his former teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain thrive at Anfield may have convinced Walcott that ending his 12-year stay with the Gunners and moving to Everton was the right decision.
“Theo Walcott has probably looked at his former team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and seen how much his career has benefited from leaving Arsenal for Liverpool,” Redknapp was quoted by the Daily Mail.
“This is a great opportunity to get away from his Arsenal comfort zone. To elevate his career once more, he needs to put himself under pressure and that is what he is doing by moving to Everton.
“He will need to get fitter and stronger but he is a very talented player who can play as a striker or out wide. Everton have always had good wingers with pace and he can do well there. Walcott knows he has got to get his career back on track and that is why he has made this move.”
Walcott is expected to have a key role to play at Everton, although it is not yet clear whether Sam Allardyce plans to use the forward extensively. Walcott has the ability to play anywhere in the attack. He could be utilised as a No.9 by Everton, or he could be played down the right-wing.
Will he play up front alongside Cenk Tosun? Will he take the position that Yannick Bolasie and Aaron Lennon have occupied on the flanks? It remains to be seen. Everton have been pathetic in front of goal this season and Walcott could help them on that front.
If the 28-year-old Walcott wants to unlock his real potential at Everton and still believe in getting a place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, he has to take inspiration from his former colleague Chamberlain, who has started to look every bit of a player Jurgen Klopp was hoping to have when he bought him from Arsenal last summer.
