Former Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott has revealed the three top Manchester United legends he played against during his long spell with the Gunners.
Theo Walcott first arrived at Arsenal after legendary former Gunners manager Arsene Wenger signed him from Southampton in 2006 for an initial £5m fee.
The 35-year-old former Arsenal winger spent his entire Arsenal spell under Arsene Wenger and made a whopping 397 appearances during his spell at the Emirates.
Walcott, who scored 108 times for the Gunners, lifted two FA Cup trophies with Arsenal before he left the Emirates in 2018 and signed for Everton.
The Arsenal cult hero later played for Southampton before he announced his retirement from professional football in 2023.
Walcott was all too familiar with the legendary rivalry between Arsenal legend Wenger and iconic former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Walcott picks two tough Man Utd legends
Speaking to Bleacher Report, Theo Walcott opened up about Manchester United’s rivalry with Arsenal and his encounter with legendary Red Devils players of the past.
The former Everton and Southampton player picked Patrice Evra as his first choice, with Walcott claiming that the United legend was “so annoying to keep up with.”
“Patrice Evra. The reason being he was not just a great defender, going forward, he was incredible,” he said in a clip posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“He really was, it was just so annoying to keep up with, so he’d be one.”
Walcott’s pick after Patrice Evra was none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, who shot to superstardom during his spell under United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
The ex-England winger claimed that Ronaldo was “hard to manage” on the pitch and admitted that it was “incredible to be around” the former United star.
“The other one would be Cristiano Ronaldo, playing against him,” Walcott continued.
“I know, physically playing against him, but he was just incredible to be around.
“When you’re trying to double up with him, with Justin Hoyte, I remember he’s just so hard to manage.”
Walcott waxed lyrical about one Man Utd legend
Walcott’s final pick after Patrice Evra and Cristiano Ronaldo was none other than “incredible” United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Rio Ferdinand was a linchpin defensive figure in Ferguson’s legendary teams of the past and is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Premier League history.
Arsenal cult hero Walcott hailed the 45-year-old former United defender and claimed that Ferdinand could be the best defender in England’s history.
“Rio Ferdinand was an incredible defender, probably one of England’s best, if not, the best defender that’s ever lived,” he said.
“Actually, in the Premier League, for me, there’s many of them and he’s one of them. And actually, playing with him for England.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
