Don Walcott, father of Theo, received the text late on the Sunday evening. It was a simple, enigmatic message from his son. Don, like all Arsenal fans, had been fretting a little about the lack of transfer activity at the Emirates over the summer, and he was desperate to see Arsène Wenger add a stellar name to his squad.

“Don’t worry, someone’s coming,” Theo’s text ran, or words to that effect. Intrigued, Don replied immediately, asking who the new arrival would be.

“Can’t say,” came the answer. Those Arsenal players who knew what was coming were sworn to secrecy. Even family had to remain in the dark, for now.

The younger, more famous Walcott remembers that evening well. He remembers beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in