Theo Walcott's Arsenal regret, Max Dowman advice and Chelsea rejection - 'a lot to take'

Theo Walcott's Arsenal regret, Max Dowman advice and Chelsea rejection - 'a lot to take'Theo Walcott has already offered advice to Max Dowman and opened up on his own decisions as a teenagerCommentsSportTom Victor Senior Sports Journalist08:30, 04 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesTheo Walcott played for Southampton either side of 12 years at Arsenal(Image: Matt Watson, Southampton FC via Getty Images)When Arsenal face Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals this week, it will provide Theo Walcott with the opportunity to see two of his old clubs go head-to-head. Walcott was among the most thrilling young talents in English football when he swapped St Mary's for the Emirates Stadium in 2006, yet still harbours regrets about how his Arsenal exit unfolded more than a decade later.‌The 37-year-old hung up his boots in 2023, having returned to Southampton for a second stint at the end of his career. His final professional goal came against Arsenal, in a 3-3 draw which contributed to ending the Gunners' title aspirations, though it wasn't enough to keep Southampton in the top-flight.‌Today, Arsenal have another exciting teenage talent on their hands in the form of Max Dowman. At 16, the academy product is marginally younger than Walcott was when he made his professional debut but has already started twice this term and scored his first Premier League goal in March.‌Even if Dowman remains in Arsenal's first team for an entire decade, he won't have equalled Walcott's 12-year tenure. The former wide man holds no regrets about the actual decision to leave for Everton in January 2018 but rather over how circumstances unfolded when the time came to make the move.FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook pageREAD MORE: New theory emerges of why Ben White got 'really upset' during England campREAD MORE: Arsenal stars 'should be banned' as Premier League told to make new rule in dramatic...