Walcott - My days as a Chelsea ballboy

By Richard Clarke

Theo Walcott has gone from Chelsea ballboy to Arsenal poster boy in the space of six short years.

The 17-year-old winger is set to play the biggest match of his burgeoning career on Sunday when the two teams contest the Carling Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. And Jose Mourinho’s side are intent on biting the hands that used to feed them - footballs that is.

Walcott might have been playing for Chelsea on Sunday. Even before he had reached his teenage years they had spotted his talent and invited him to Stamford Bridge to help out.

“Yeah I was 10 going on 11 when I was a ballboy there,” he said. “There was always a chance I could have gone to Chelsea.

“I was playing in Jersey and their scouts were there. They invited me to come down for the Liverpool match because I was a Liverpool fan.

“I remember Liverpool lost 2-0 and I didn’t get a touch of the ball but at least I got to watch it. And I met some of the players - Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen - afterwards in the dressing room. It’s funny because when I went to the World Cup I showed Michael a picture of it.

“But I was more interested in the Academy then to be honest. At a young age you just want to play football. It was always going to be Southampton.”

Walcott’s selection in Germany only added to the hype that has surrounded him ever since he signed for Arsenal last January. The player himself accepts the past year has not been a smooth ride but opportunity has knocked loudest in the Carling Cup.

“I just think we’ve got better every round,” he said. “To go away to Tottenham and get that result was brilliant, I thought. It’s not an easy place to go to I’ll tell you that now. I thought Portsmouth was bad but we showed character at 2-0 down with all the fans against us. I thought our supporters were brilliant, Julio’s two goals were brilliant and the whole squad were brilliant.

“But overall it has been hard because you just want to play. I’m only 17 and playing in the first team at Arsenal, probably the best club in the world I’d say. So I’ve got a long way to go yet.

“Still to be here in my first year and be in a cup final so early, I didn’t expect that. It is a dream come true.”

Walcott - We can’t give up on the title race yet

By Richard Clarke

Theo Walcott has not given up on the Premiership title yet.

It will be a very tall order of course. This weekend’s results saw Arsenal fall 17 points behind Manchester United with only 13 games left to play. But, despite the enormity of the task, the 17-year-old winger believes his side’s spirit should not be underestimated.

“We can’t give up,” he told Arsenal.com after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough. “I feel we’ll definitely be there for the Champions League places and hopefully we can push on for the top three. But we still can’t forget about the Premiership [title].

“There is a good spirit through the whole camp at the moment and we are full of confidence.

“This result may set us back a little bit. We were expected winners but don’t take credit away from Middlesbrough. They played really well. It was tough for us but I think we battled well with 10 men.”

Walcott : Walcott's talents a 'lethal mix' - Lee

Stand-in coach Sammy Lee described Theo Walcott's talents as a 'lethal mix' as he prepares England Under-21s for their friendly against Holland in Alkmaar tonight. Walcott, the 17-year-old Arsenal forward, is expected to feature in an experimental line-up against the Dutch following seven withdrawals through injury. While in the backroom staff with the seniors, Lee had a close look at Walcott at the World Cup when the youngster was chosen but famously not played as England limped out last summer. 'Better people than me - Arsene Wenger and Sven-Goran Eriksson, for example - have seen the quality of the lad, and I did when I was in Germany,' said Lee. 'You don't have to be a Philadelphia lawyer to see the quality he possesses - the enthusiasm, the desire, the youthful exuberance and the talent and ability. 'You just have to be patient and give him the platform to develop on a natural basis rather than push him too early into the spotlight.' Walcott has impressed in cameo roles for Arsenal and has scored four goals in his first four under-21s appearances - displaying his pace against Germany in a play-off win to reach next year's European Championship finals, which are also in Holland. Lee added: 'Pace is really important in the modern game, but that only underlines his ability and quality - it's a lethal mix to play against.' Lee is in charge of the under-21s for just one match, while Peter Taylor concentrates on club matters at struggling Coca-Cola Championship side Crystal Palace. England boss Steve McClaren has been looking for a full-time boss for the under-21s, which Lee was earmarked for but never officially offered. Appointing a full-time coach was never officially approved by the Football Association - and Lee stayed at Bolton as assistant boss, while Taylor continued in a part-time capacity while still at Palace day to day. 'I firmly believe that it should be full-time, because to do it right it needs to be,' added Lee. 'It's no good to have it part-time, because the best man for the job part-time is in the job now - and that is Peter Taylor. 'First and foremost I wasn't offered it because it wasn't offered as a full-time post. 'If it was a full-time post I think anybody and everybody would be interested in taking on such a prestigious and important developmental role.'