Theo Walcott reveals why he ‘looked up’ to Mikel Arteta when they played together at Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commands the full respect of his playing squad, and it was a similar story during his playing days.

Arteta has helped transform Arsenal into title contenders, and has built a young squad full of quality and strong characters.

Many have praised Arteta’s style of management, and some of his former teammates have highlighted how they believed he was always destined to succeed as a coach.

One of Arteta’s former teammates Theo Walcott has reunited with the squad for their pre-season tour in the USA, and he has now praised the Spaniard, whilst revealing how he used to look up to him during their playing days together.

Theo Walcott used to admire Mikel Arteta during Arsenal playing days

Speaking to Arsenal club media, Walcott reminisced about pre-season tours he spent with Arteta in the past, and explained what made the former midfielder a good role model even before he became a manager.

“I think I’ve got some photos on my phone of me and Mikel on tour playing games in an arcade!” Walcott stated.

“He was great, he was very serious and straight to the point and you always sensed that he would be a manager and lead someday.

“I thought he was a man you wanted to play with, and play for at some point. Being older than me, I looked up to him and even though I was an established player, it was nice to take a little bit from how he was off the field.”

Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta’s relationship on the pitch

Walcott and Arteta did not play together for too long, with both players suffering from injuries later on in their Arsenal careers.

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Arteta did provide an assist for Walcott as he scored in the first minute against QPR in the 2012-13 season, with Arsenal securing a 1-0 win which would prove vital in the race for a top-four spot.

The Spaniard assisted eight goals in his time at Arsenal, and this was the only one scored by Walcott. However, the pair did share a good relationship off the pitch, and both were vital in different FA Cup victories under Arsene Wenger.