What could have been for Theo Walcott?
Theo Walcott's proposed move to Everton brings an end to an Arsenal career which promised so much more. A decade at the club has produced just three FA Cup trophies to show for his efforts, which is a paltry sum considering his huge potential. Signed from Southampton in 2006 and hailed as England's next great footballing talent, Walcott has just never kicked on to reach the highest level.
The accusation that he is just an athlete - he's always been one of the league's fastest players - without the technique has been harsh at times, but when given the opportunity to prove his ability, he was regularly found lacking. Repeatedly asking Arsene Wenger to play him in a main striking role, as opposed to out on the right flank, the goals did not follow nearly as much as they did for Thierry Henry, who was also converted from a winger into a centre forward at the club.
Walcott's final goal tally for the Gunners is not a shameful one by any means - 108 in 397 appearances - but for a player who had such expectation surrounding him, it should have been much more. When reflecting back, there is not one campaign where it is possible to say Walcott transformed the side, nor was he the club's star man - unlike Wayne Rooney and his sensational 2009/10 campaign, where he netted an impressive 34 in total.
He was good in flashes but disappointing on other occasions too. The sad truth is that Walcott will become symbolic of this era for Arsenal: promising much but ultimately delivering little. After the departures of incons like Henry and Patrick Vieira after the "Invincibles" season, Wenger placed his trust in youth - Walcott, Gael Clichy, Abou Diaby, Cesc Fabregas and the like.
They seemed to have a talented group of youngsters similar to Sir Alex Ferguson's during the "Class of 92", but the results just did not follow. Walcott is the only player that still remains from that era, as the rest headed in search of glory and trophies that their talent deserved.
Harsh yes, but perhaps Wenger's trust in players like Walcott are why Arsenal seem to be falling behind their rivals including Chelsea and Manchester United: he's talented, certainly, yes but not truly an elite player capable of thriving in a title-winning side.
Time will tell if Everton is the right move for the Englishman, but it's an intriguing one. Their transfer policy of late has been curious as new owner Farhad Moshiri has enabled them to spend heavily on ageing top-flight players - including Rooney and centre-back Ashley Williams. Walcott turns 29 in two months' time and while all three were good players at their peak, it's doubtful whether they still have the ability to take the Toffees forward.
Walcott and Rooney also never seemed to strike up a strong partnership at international level, despite many appearances together for England.
Everton have three main forwards now in Sandro, Rooney and new signing Cenk Tosun from Besiktas - so the suspicion is that Walcott will continue to operate on the right flank. If that is the case, he'll be in direct competition with one Aaron Lennon and perhaps that will be indicative of their respective careers: two exciting, electrifying wingers who burst onto the scene for their north London rivals but failed to add goals and assists regularly enough to match the potential.
Compared to another former Saint in Gareth Bale, perhaps it will always be a case of "what if" for Theo Walcott going forward.