Walcott: Beattie is the best

Arsenal starlet, Theo Walcott has revealed that James Beattie was his inspiration as he took part in his first ever penalty shoot-out.

Walcott and Beattie were team-mates at Southampton and he’s revealed that he took his cue from the Stoke striker when he lined up in Arsenal’s Champions League penalty shoot-out against Roma.

“I had a dry throat going towards the goal but I didn’t look at the goalkeeper once,” said Walcott after the game. “I learned that from James Beattie.

“He’s probably one of the best penalty takers I have seen. I have watched him over the years and mine wasn’t as good a penalty as his but they all count.”

Certainly, Beattie has been an inspiration for Stoke since joining from Sheffield United in January. He’s now scored five goals in only seven appearances and will be looking forward to showing another former club, Everton, what they missed out on when the Potters visit Goodison Park on Saturday.