'I was thrown straight into it with that World Cup. I turned out okay, but it could've gone a different way' Theo Walcott offers advice to Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman

"Walcott was named in the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, just months after his Highbury move and on reflection believes everything was thrust upon him at once. Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo ahead of punditry duties on Amazon Prime Video's coverage of the UEFA Champions League this week, Walcott says the current crop of young players coming through at the Emirates Stadium is 'exciting'."

""I look at it really differently as well, because when I came to the club, I couldn't relate to any of the players because of my age gap. And I look at Max [Dowman] coming through, and you see Ethan [Nwaneri], a couple years older, and maybe not even that, Myles [Lewis-Skelly] again, [can] all relate, probably doing the same things together away from the game.""

""I think it's important to just to bring them back down to earth at times, and not to give them everything too soon. I'm not saying I had it too soon. However, it was very different for me coming through and that patient side of it, keeping the guys away from the media at times, protecting them.""

Theo Walcott moved from Southampton to Arsenal at 16 and was named in England's 2006 World Cup squad months later, an experience he describes as being thrust upon him. Walcott notes the current crop of young Arsenal players, including Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, can relate to each other because of smaller age gaps. He emphasizes the importance of bringing young players back down to earth at times, not giving them everything too soon, and protecting them from media exposure. Walcott contrasts his rapid rise with a more patient, protective approach for today’s talents.

Read at www.fourfourtwo.com