The winter transfer window surprisingly saw many star names switch one club to another. In the mix was Theo James Walcott, who completed a £20 million move from Arsenal to Everton. The 28-year-old winger returns to the grounds he once called home as his new side takes on his former club on Saturday.
Having made his first professional debut for Arsenal at the age of 17, Walcott ended a 12-year spell at the club by amassing 108 goals in 397 appearances. Collectively, he contributed to the Gunners winning two FA Cups, two Community Shields and a Football League Cup.
To some, this was a meager return from a promising lad who was labeled to pick up the prestigious Ballon d’Or award at some point in his career. However, that expectation was heavily marred by recurrent injuries and strings of inconsistent performances. In a nutshell, he failed to live up to his full potential as a Gunner.
Nevertheless, the opportunity for resurgence was handed to him when the Toffees came knocking. The renaissance Theo Walcott has already bagged home a brace of goals and an assist in his first two games for the Evertonians.
But having sneaked off at midnight to pack his belongings from the Arsenal dressing room, the England international was unable to say his goodbyes to the fans and his teammates. Ahead of his side’s trip to London, the former darling boy of the Gunners seeks to do just that.
"When I found I was coming here I had to go there (Arsenal's training ground) at night and pick up all my stuff in bin bags," Walcott said per Independent's report.
"I will at some point go back and say my proper goodbyes but we do play them very soon, which I am looking forward to."
Aside the inevitable hugs and farewell, it will be very interesting what the ex-Arsenal winger has in store for his new side against his old club in his new-found form. Game on!
