Theo Walcott insists he only ever wanted to play as a striker – despite spending most of his career on the wing – and reveals which Premier League legend he modelled his game on

Theo Walcott has revealed which Premier League legend he modelled his game after, as he claimed he always preferred playing as a striker.

Walcott hung up his boots in August 2023 after a successful career which saw him play for the likes of Arsenal, Everton and Southampton.

He made his name with the Gunners after making 397 appearances – and scoring 108 goals – during his time in north London.

Though his numbers are impressive, he could’ve called his time on football with more goals on his record had he not been played as a winger predominantly.

Now, Walcott has revealed he did in fact want to play up-top and revealed which top-flight legend he modelled his game off.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Walcott said: ‘I watched Michael Owen, he was my idol going into football. When I saw him in ’98 against Argentina – I moulded my game around him. 

The former England international spent 12 years playing at Arsenal before leaving

He revealed that Michael Owen (left) was the player he tried to model his game after

‘It was very similar styles, wanting to play up front, not the biggest stature but had raw pace and knew my strengths and wanted players to play to my strengths. 

‘At times I might drift out to the right but then go back in the middle, and periods where people would ask “what position are you?”. I always wanted to play centre forward. 

‘But then playing with a three, playing on your own someone of my stature, it’s not ideal where the game was developing and the period of football was changing. It didn’t quite work in that sense, but there were patches where I felt it could work.

‘I do (think I could have scored more goals had I played down the middle). What defenders fear, and Jamie will support me here, is pure pace. 

‘When you have players who are willing runners against centre-halves, you’re always on the move and I was that player, you could never switch off from me.

‘I did feel at times that I wanted more (time) up front but I had [Robin] Van Persie to get ahead of and of course we know how good a player he was. 

‘And I played some great seasons with him. But I look back there and think, yes I should have been given more games up front.’

Walcott spent 12 years in Arsenal’s first-team before eventually leaving to join Everton, where he scored 11 goals across three seasons with the club. 

He would later join Southampton before deciding to hang up his boots.