Theo Walcott

Name: Theodore “Theo” WalcottDate of Birth: 16 March 1989Birthplace: Newbury, BerkshireNationality: EnglishOther nationality: BarbadianPosition: ForwardSquad Number: 32Height: 5ft 7inWeight: 68kgInternational Honours: England U17, England U16, Engladn U19, England B, 1 full England cap, Germany 2006 World Cup Squad.Current Club: Arsenal FCFormer Clubs: AFC Newbury, Swindon Town, Southampton FC Team Supported: Liverpool F.C.I inherited my alliance from my father Don who is a lifetime Liverpool supporter.Position: Winger Striker Forward. I can play on either the left or right, though I'm right footed.Strengths: touch, awareness and pace.Weaknesses: left foot and heading.I describes myself as “Pacey, skilful, determined, family-oriented and handsome!.”I also currently have a girlfriend, Melanie Slade.I've already scored 4 Goals in the Championship. I'm the youngest ever Southampton player, Definetely the one to watch in 2006. I'm a compilation of some of my recent goals and moments.I have inherited Wayne Rooney's mantle as English football's most exciting teenage talent - and the baggage that comes with the title. Like Rooney, Southampton's I've emerged in an explosion of high-profile publicity as a 16-year-old with the world at my feet.I've been scoring goals that automatically grab the attention, the latest being a brilliant winner for Saints in their 1-0 victory against Luton. And, like Wayne Rooney, my potential and performances have attracted the attention of the biggest clubs in England, who are poised to fight it out for this hot property - if Southampton give the nod.Chelsea have been linked with an £8m move for the young striker they let slip through their fingers. The Stamford Bridge club spotted me at a junior tournament and offered me a deal, as well as taking me to a game and making me a ball boy.But Southampton's personal touch won the day - and if Chelsea want me back they will have to pay handsomely for the privilege. Now Arsenal are also being touted with a possible move for me in the January transfer window.But Southampton caretaker manager Dave Bassett told BBC Sport he's confident I will not be blinded by the spotlight or the speculation.He said: "Theo is a really nice kid. He comes into the club and he is very level-headed. He has got a nice smile and is obviously doing very well at his football. "As for his game, he is a very quick, lively player who has come on the scene and really brightened the landscape."I became England's youngest ever player aged just 17 years and 75 days when I made my debut as a substitute against Hungary in May 2006.A surprise call-up to the World Cup squad for Germany, I was introduced to international football in the 'B' friendly against Belarus only five days earlier.Again coming on for Michael Owen in his first Senior match, I beat Wayne Rooney's previous record as England's youngest cap.The teenage prodigy moved to Arsenal after some stunning performances for Southampton at the start of the 2005/6 season.These, whose pace troubles defenders, scored four goals in 13 league starts for the Saints before signing for the Gunners.I've been prolific at England youth level, notching five goals in 11 appearances for the Under-17s.I featured for England Under-19s against Slovakia in February, scoring from the spot in a 3-0 win.I completed my move to Arsenal on January 20, 2006 to become the Gunners’ third signing of the transfer window. The 16-year-old England youth international burst on to the first-team scene with Championship side Southampton this term, and at the time of my departure from St. Mary’s, was the Club’s joint leading scorer with five goals from just 13 starts.The pacy winger can also operate as a striker and scored on my Reserve team debut against Portsmouth in February. I will wear the No 32 shirt at Arsenal - the same number I wore at Southampton.MarchI made my second appearance in an Arsenal shirt against Charlton Athletic for the second-string - and scored my second goal for the Gunners. The 17-year-old was also named on the substitutes bench for games against Real Madrid and Juventus without being brought on.FebruaryI made my first appearance in an Arsenal shirt against Portsmouth for the second string — and scored with a fine second-half strike. The 16-year-old was also named on the substitutes’ bench for games at Birmingham City and Real Madrid without being brought on.JanuaryI became Arsenal’s third signing of the transfer window when I joined the Gunners from Southampton. The pacy 16-year-old was given 10 days off by Arsène Wenger and was yet to make my first appearance for Arsenal when the month ended.A series of scintillating performances during my first season in senior football for Southampton was enough to bring Arsenal down to the South Coast to snare me. The 16-year-old's defence-ruining pace and eye for goal was already the worst-kept secret in the Championship before the Gunners beat Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool to my signature. £5m up front, with future fees totaling out at £12m was the agreed fee, a vast amount of money for someone who has played just thirteen professional games. Clearly, Arsenal felt they were on to someone special.Born in Newbury, Berkshire, I was a sprint champion at school and an outstanding forward in junior football, my ability catching the eye of Southampton who signed me on an apprenticeship in 2004. I rapid journey from schoolboy football to first team starter at St Mary's is made all the more remarkable by my slight physique; at just 5ft7' I would appear to be a little on the short side, but as one schoolboy team-mate recalls: 'People couldn't kick me because they couldn't get near me.' Five goals in thirteen starts for Southampton, dotted in performances that saw me run Championship full-backs ragged, confirmed my quality in the professional game, but the move to Arsenal still remains a gamble.Arsenal was reportedly my choice of club because of the support structure Arsene Wenger has in place for my legion of young players. Coming from a close family, the youngster perhaps feared the anonymity of Chelsea. Whether he can make it from young reserve into the Arsenal first team alongside the man he once called 'the best striker in the world' remains to be seen.
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