Arsenal 'way better' than Man City says club legend

Stuart Telford

• 22 Apr 2023 07:35 CDT
• 3 min read

Arsenal have what it takes to beat Manchester City - both on Wednesday and to the Premier League title - according to former Gunners hero Theo Walcott.

Walcott joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old in a £9.1 million deal from Southampton back in 2006, and won two FA Cups in his 12 years with the club before leaving for Everton and then Southampton.

But he was back to haunt his former employers on Friday, scoring Southampton's second as they held the Premier League leaders to a 3-3 draw at the Emirates - a result which means Manchester City can reclaim top spot if they win their two games in hand.

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City beat Southampton 4-1 two weeks ago, but Walcott insists Arsenal are the better team.

What did Walcott say?

"Arsenal are just incredible," to former England winger told NBC Sports. "We played Man City the other week and I thought Arsenal were way better than them.

"That's how I see Arsenal at the moment. We can take a lot of positives from this game because they are the best team in this league at this moment in time."

The result left Southampton four points adrift of safety having played a game more than Walcott's former club Everton, who are 17th.

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The Toffees paid Arsenal £20m for Walcott's services in January 2018, the players highest ever ETV per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm the €34.4m (£30.7m) he was rated at the season before making that move.

At 34, Walcott is no longer a player Southampton will be able to cash in on if they are relegated from the Premier League this season, but James Ward-Prowse is one of a number of players who have been told they can leave if the Saints go down.

The club captain is one free-kick away from overtaking David Beckham's record for goals from set pieces in England's top-flight, and Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are among those reportedly interested in his services.