Arsenal Vs Everton: 5 key players to watch — Debuts galore

2. Theo Walcott

For the first time in over a decade, Theo Walcott will be playing in North London for a team not playing in red. Signed in 2006, Walcott has been a figure of great debate and controversy among Arsenal circles. Always a reliable and consistent goalscorer, but doing so in spite of his football acumen, never quite delivering on his natural ability as a fresh-faced 16-year-old.

Now with Everton, a team perfect to exploit his strengths — speed on the counter-attack; a goalscoring streak; a willingness to be direct and explosive with the ball –, Walcott returns to the Emirates as the ideal player to cause Arsenal problems. Jordan Ayew, Nathan Dyer and Sam Clucas on Tuesday night, for example, created havoc because of their free-flowing, powerful movement. How much more chaos and uncertainty will ensue with Walcott’s blistering pace present?

Moreover, there is always the motivation of playing against your old team, proving that they were wrong to sell you. Walcott will be keen to play well. Would it be all that surprising if he scores? Absolutely not. And given the Gunners’ defensive miscommunications, lack of awareness and general vulnerabilities, Walcott may well be fancying his chances.