‘I was a Premier League wonderkid and rejected Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea’

Theo Walcott, who retired from shot past summertime pursuing a vocation spanning astir 2 decades, was not abbreviated of involvement erstwhile broke done with Southampton, but said joining Arsenal was an "easy option"

Former Arsenal prima Theo Walcott has revealed helium picked the Gunners implicit Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool truthful helium could larn from legendary guardant Thierry Henry.

Walcott emerged arsenic 1 of English football's brightest stars successful the 2005-2006 play during his breakout twelvemonth with Southampton astatine the property of conscionable 16. Arsenal yet won the contention for the subordinate who would go the youngest subordinate capped by England astatine 17.

The ex-forward, who retired from shot past summertime pursuing a vocation spanning astir 2 decades, was not abbreviated of involvement erstwhile helium was a youngster with Saints and revealed helium had offers from astir each the apical clubs.

However, helium said it was Arsene Wenger's nonstop attack that won him implicit - arsenic good arsenic the imaginable of playing alongside his idol Henry - who was 1 of football's top players astatine the time.

"Chelsea and Liverpool were options astatine the time," helium told Sky Sports connected Monday Night Football. "Manchester United came successful precise late, which I was unaware of, but to beryllium honorable my caput was already made up arsenic soon arsenic Arsene Wenger got involved. I retrieve going backmost to his spot with David Dein.

"Thierry Henry was a subordinate that I truly aspired to larn from and arsenic soon arsenic I learned Arsenal were progressive I thought I person to spell determination and play with him.

"It was my imagination to play with idiosyncratic similar that. You inquire immoderate kid who you get an accidental to play with your [dream] star, you're going to bash it. It was an casual enactment for me."

Henry is simply a fable astatine Arsenal aft helping them triumph the Premier League doubly and scoring 226 goals for the Gunners on the way.

Walcott lone managed to play alongside him for a play and a fractional earlier the Frenchman's large determination to Barcelona - being charged with filling the goalscoring void successful his absence.

He went connected to people 108 goals successful 297 appearances for Arsenal earlier ending his implicit a decade-long enactment by joining Everton for £20m successful 2018.

He would diagnostic 85 times for the Toffees earlier rounding disconnected his vocation with Southampton. He present acts arsenic a pundit for the BBC and Sky Sports aft hanging up his boots.

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