Everton confirmed the signing of Theo Walcott from Arsenal on Wednesday evening.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce has told TalkSPORT believes Arsenal’s system prevented Theo Walcott from reaching the pinnacle of his game, after the Toffees swooped in to lure the speed machine to Goodison Park.
The 28-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year deal on Wednesday in a move that is worth £20million, becoming Allardyce’s second signing with the Merseyside club after Cenk Tosun joined from Besiktas for £27million.
Walcott has been afforded just six Premier League appearances this season, spanning 63 minutes of top-tier action as he remains behind the likes of Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil above him in the pecking order.
Allardyce believes the England international could be exactly what Everton needs to reignite their season during the second half of the 2017-18 campaign, as well as stating that Walcott’s goal record is why Everton have splashed out.
“It is interesting when you look at Theo’s career and the number of goals he has scored is one of the key elements why we bought him, not just his pace and ability,” Allardyce said.
“He got over 100 goals at Arsenal and he is not a player that actually got a regular place apart from last season and that was his best season when he scored 19 goals. Arsenal’s change of system unfortunately hasn’t allowed him to get in much this season.
“A goal in every three games is more of a centre forward’s ratio but he is getting them in a wide position. Hopefully it is exactly what we need.”
Last season, Walcott amassed an impressive 19 goals in just 37 league and cup outings despite playing from the flanks for large parts of the campaign as he contested with Olivier Giroud for the attacking-spearhead role.
Although the former Southampton ace has made it clear that he prefers playing up front, he is unlikely to be given the chance to do so at Everton with Tosun eyed as Romelu Lukaku’s replacement.
Walcott is in line to make his Everton debut on Saturday, as the Toffees play host to West Brom. He will be looking to hit the ground running in order to throw himself into the mix for Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad.
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