Hailing from Southampton's famed youth academy, Theo Walcott had several choices after electing to move clubs in January 2006.
The London trio of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur were all interested in the Stanmore-born attacker, as noted by the Independent's Nick Harris, and the then-16-year-old chose Arsenal for an eventual £9 million transfer fee—per Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph.
Three contracts, nine seasons, 76 goals and 302 appearances later, Walcott's north London career is rapidly approaching a crossroad season.