THEO WALCOTT got on the scoresheet and Carlos Vela made his Arsenal debut as the Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw by Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas in the first match of their Austrian tour.
Mexican Vela started alongside Nicklas Bendtner up front, while Walcott dropped into midfield.
From the start of the 2008/09 season Theo Walcott will wear the number 14 shirt, previously worn by Thierry Henry
Theo Walcott scored the only goal as Arsenal beat Sunderland 1-0 at the stadium of light.
After the final Premiership games had been played Fabio Capello announced his England squad to face USA and Trinidad & Tobago, Theo Walcott was included in that squad, Theo was also named in Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 squad for next Thursday’s friendly with Wales in Wrexham, he will then link up with the senior party.
The Sun newspaper are calling Theo Walcott ‘Theodona’ after his amazing run tore apart Liverpool to create Arsenal’s second goal on the night.
The full article can be read here
1. Theo’s former clubs include AFC Newbury, Swindon Town and Southampton FC
2. Theo won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2006.
3. Theo’s nickname is The Newbury Express
4. Theo and his father both support Liverpool FC
5. Theo is the youngest player ever to score for the England under 21’sT
6. heo is the youngest player ever to play for the Southampton F.C. first team
7. Theo is also the youngest player ever to play in the Southampton reserve team
8. Theo is the most expensive 16 year old in the history of British football
9. Theo wears the number 32 shirt at Arsenal, the same number he wore at Southampton.
10. Theo is the great nephew of West Indian batsman Clyde Walcott
Theo Walcott has today been recalled to the senior England squad after Fabio Capello confirmed his provisional squad of 30 players for the friendly away to France next week.
Two goals in the space of five minutes from Theo Walcott seemed set to give Arsenal all three points against Birmingham.
But it was not to be as James McFadden, who had scored from a free kick in the first half, scored the equaliser in the final few seconds of the game.
Walcott scored his first ever Premiership goals for the Gunners, the first in the 50th minute from the six yard box after Adebayor had appeared to have fouled keeper Taylor following a corner from Fabregas as the Togolese jumped for a header and managed an assist for the young forward.
However, the second goal showed the class of the talented Walcott as he moved from the right side to score with a left-footed shot from 18 yards in the 55th minute.
If reports are to be believed then Arsenal have turned down a sensational move by Liverpool to take Theo Walcott on loan.
The Times have reported the 18-year-old has attracted interest from several Barclays Premier League clubs, with Manchester City also interested, but the biggest suprise is that Rafael Benitez was willing to place his faith in a player of such limited experience as he attempts to rescue Liverpool’s faltering season will come as a surprise.
Benitez has admired Walcott for some time and was one of many managers scrambling for his signature when he left Southampton two years ago.
Theo Walcott may go out on loan for the rest of the season after Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he wanted to loan him to another premiership club.
The Arsenal boss has apparently made some calls to rival managers offering them the England star, 18, for the rest of the season.
But he only wants to loan him if he gets regular football and is played down the middle rather than out wide.
This would be a good move for Theo who has not been able to shine as expected, mainly due to being played out wide by Arsene Wenger
Theo Walcott scored a 79th minute equaliser to deny Tottenham Hotspur an advantage in the Carling Cup semi-final.
For more information see skysports.com