Arsène Wenger says Theo Walcott has gone from “a little boy” to a man during his time at the club. The Frenchman signed Walcott as a 16-year-old from Southampton and has watched his development both on and off the pitch to become one of the fastest and top talent in the league.
The England international made his Arsenal debut nine years ago this week in the first competitive game at Emirates Stadium.
“He has become very mature, he has gone through difficult periods so he is a very strong man,” the manager told Arsenal Player.
Walcott has gone on to earn 50 caps and score eight goals representing England, including at the 2006 World Cup and 2012 European Championship.
“He is a man today, when he arrived here he was a boy, a little boy who discovered a world where he did not know anything about it.”
Walcott has had an injury-plagued career, missing a total of 120 games from various injuries, most notably his cruciate ligament rupture in 2014.
“Of course he had to go through bad injuries and disappointments and I believe he is a man today, a man who knows what he wants and has been faithful to our club.
“It was a great signing.”
Walcott hasn’t been out injured since December 2014 and Wenger hopes he ‘stays free of injuries now’.
The Arsenal forward has scored 76 goals in 302 appearance for the club, working out at a goal every four games.
