Arsenal Sign Theo Walcott From Southampton

Posted on: Jan 20, 2006 in Archive

Theo Walcott Signs For Arsenal
Photo From ITV Football

In a complete reversal of their previous foreign-based transfer policy, Arsenal have announced the signing of 16 year old Southampton whizkid Theo Walcott for an initial fee of ?5m. The Gunners beat off supposed competition from Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool for the signature of the young player who has set the Championship alight this season, exciting fans with his pace and skill and encouraging the Arsenal board to pay out a fee that could in time rise to over ?12.5m.

While Walcott’s rise to prominence has been meteroic, it’s hard to understand the rationale behind Arsenal’s sudden and quick interest and expenditure. Every season another young talent is unearthed and labelled the great young hope of English football only for many to burn out long before their 20th birthday and fade into obscurity.

While Wayne Rooney had a season or two of solid Premiership experience and an impressive World Cup European Championships behind him before Manchester United were tempted to take the plunge on buying him, it seems like Arsenal, under the constant pressure of West London rivals Chelsea and the resurgent force of North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, have taken a rather larger gamble on the future progression of a teenage player with less than a season of Championship football under his belt.

Arsene Wenger should be aware that for every Wayne Rooney there is a Danny Cadamarteri lurking and only the passage of time will tell whether his big money gamble on Theo Walcott will pay off. For the cash strapped Gunners, it may be a testing time as Wenger’s high risk policy of Win or Bust ushers them into their new home at Ashburton Grove.

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About the author

Alan is both a former SOTG editor and former World Soccer editor at the New York Times Company. Football-wise, he wishes he was a younger lovechild of Glenn Hoddle and Diego Maradona (not the short, fat, cokehead, religious nut bit obviously...)


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2 Comments

  • Pete B January 20, 2006 at 2:15 pm

    Slight factual error there, Rooney had a solid European Championships before joining United, not a solid World Cup (he’d have been 16 when we lost to Brazil).

  • Alan Hylands January 20, 2006 at 2:40 pm

    Just testing you all, Pete B wins the prize ;-)