The vision of Theo Walcott surreptitiously shoving boots into a bin bag at a darkened Arsenal training ground does not represent the most dignified end to his 12 years at the club.

Everton’s new arrival was eager to point out his rapid exit was not as clandestine as the imagery suggests. Nevertheless, as the 28 year-old described this hasty, awkward goodbye it sounded more like an evacuation than pre-planned farewell.

“I had to go at night, it was quiet there – there were just a couple of security guards around,” said Walcott.

“All I had to put my boots in were some bin bags. It wasn't the way I would have wanted to have left, but knowing it wasn't official yet, that no one knew about it, I got a sense people would have been a bit surprised at how quickly it developed, so I had to get my stuff very quickly.

“I wouldn't have liked to have gone at night and picked up all the stuff on my own, but that is how it is.”