Arsenal Hero Theo Walcott Wishes The Gunners Had Signed £100m Chelsea Star Moises Caicedo
Theo Walcott, the former Arsenal star, has expressed his admiration for Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, wishing that the Ecuador international had joined the Gunners instead of the Blues. Caicedo signed for Chelsea in a £100m deal last summer, beating Liverpool to the player’s signature.
Chelsea have made a number of high-profile signings in recent years, but several have failed to live up to expectations. £89m signing Mykhailo Mudryk has scored just five league goals for the club, while £52m recruit Christopher Nkunku looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. However, Caicedo has emerged as one of Chelsea’s most consistent players during a mixed campaign.
Walcott, speaking to the Premier League’s YouTube channel, praised Caicedo’s abilities, saying: “For me, Claude Makelele is one of the best midfield players in that position that’s ever lived. A bit before [N’Golo] Kante. Kante took Makelele’s throne to some extent. But he [Moises Caicedo] is as close as you’re going to get to the modern era of that position. He can fill the right-back position as well.”
The Arsenal hero added: “You talk about the price tag, but it doesn’t faze him. It can take a little time to adapt to a new club but he’s an absolute rock. Sadly for me, he’s in the wrong shirt! I’m a huge fan of his because he unlocks the door for people like Cole Palmer to do their thing. He’s an extra man in that midfield, maybe two or three, that’s how good he is.”
Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, who has shared a dressing room with Caicedo, named the Chelsea midfielder as his ‘toughest opponent’ in the Premier League. Mac Allister said: “I’ve shared a dressing room with Moi, fantastic player, really good physically. The main thing I’m going to say here is physically the most hardest part against these players, I would put Caicedo first.”
Mac Allister also revealed that he was surprised when Caicedo went on loan to Belgium, saying: “I was really surprised when he went on loan to Belgium. I was really surprised because I was watching him in training and I felt like he was ready to play, but at that time they thought it was a good idea to send him on loan, he wanted that because he wanted to play as well. But I always thought that he was going to be amazing.”
Caicedo will hope to finish the season by firing Chelsea to Europa Conference League glory and helping the Blues qualify for the Champions League. Enzo Maresca’s side boosted their top-five hopes with a 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday and are now preparing for a Europa Conference League semi-final against Swedish minnows Djurgardens.
According to Metro, Walcott’s comments highlight the high regard in which Caicedo is held by his peers and former players. The Ecuador international’s impressive performances for Chelsea have made him a key player for the Blues, and his ability to dominate games has caught the attention of many in the football world.
As reported by Metro, Mac Allister’s praise for Caicedo is a testament to the midfielder’s exceptional skills on the pitch. With his physicality and technical ability, Caicedo has proven to be a valuable addition to Chelsea’s squad, and his performances will be crucial in the team’s pursuit of European glory.
In related news, Chelsea’s victory over Everton has kept their top-five hopes alive, and a win in the Europa Conference League semi-final could secure a spot in next season’s Champions League. Metro will continue to provide updates on Chelsea’s season and the latest football news.
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