Premier League icon compared to Kobbie Mainoo breaks silence on Man United star

Theo Walcott’s career with Arsenal and England started brilliantly but then waned across the Premier League as the winger grew older.

This is not to say that Theo Walcott‘s career wasn’t an overall success – he played 397 Premier League games, scoring a career 80 goals in the competition.

He also scored three against Manchester United, but his meteoric rise as a teenager sold some fans’ dreams. Walcott was included in England’s 2006 World Cup squad in Germany at the age of just 17, and although he did not appear in the competition, this created a lot of hype around his talent.

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Walcott was included in the squad without Premier League experience, whereas Kobbie Mainoo, who may well be off on the plane with England to Germany for EURO 2024 this summer, has.

Mainoo’s meteoric rise to footballing fame has been compared a lot with Walcott’s over the last few months, but the former Arsenal forward has explained why their two situations are very different.

Different situations

“My situation was very different to his. I didn’t experience playing in the Premier League,” Walcott told talkSPORT. “I was only 17, so I had not had that experience of playing week-in, week-out, which he’s doing right now, so there’s a difference.

“But not just that, he’s playing above his age, he really is. There’s always new talents that come through, I get that. But we do need to have a bit of patience,” he said.

Mainoo is ready

Speaking further, Theo Walcott explained that he feels Mainoo is ready to take the step from club to international level and play in one of the biggest tournaments in world football.

“But he’s ready for England. I think he’s the sort of lad that can cope with it, I really do, when you play for Man United as well, one of the biggest clubs in the world. If you’re playing for that week-in, week-out, you deserve to play for England, simple as that.

“I don’t care what anyone says. And I think the way he plays the game, he’s so elegant and he’s peaceful and he’s very calm.

“Look, I was a completely different player. I was all about pace and just fearless. Which he’s got as well, he’s fearless. I think that’s important to nurture that side of it, have some patience because there’s going to be ups and downs. Of course there will be.”