10 Theo Walcott Performances That Show Why Arsenal Must Keep Him

Walcott has always enjoyed a better reputation on the continent than the somewhat judgmental view of fans back home. Games like this Champions League quarter-final show why.

Arsenal were floundering against on onslaught from a Barcelona side with Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the line. Two goals from Ibrahimovic had left the home team with a mountain to climb before Wenger's last throw of the dice: introducing the 21 year old Walcott as a substitute for Bacary Sagna.

Just two minutes after Walcott stepped onto the pitch he found space out on the right wing. Racing into the box, he struck a hard, low shot that Victor Valdes simply couldn't reach.

Walcott didn't just pull a goal back, he inspired a complete change in the run of play. Arsenal fought back to a 2-2 draw and Walcott received an endorsement from his predecessor Thierry Henry, returning to the Emirates for the first time as a Barcelona player.

The return tie at the Nou Camp saw an injury struck Arsenal crash to a 4-1 defeat, but not before Walcott had set up Niklas Bendtner to give the Gunners an early lead.