Players Profile: Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

A series of scintillating performances during his first season in senior football for Southampton was enough to bring Arsenal down to the South Coast to snare Theo Walcott. The 16-year-olds defence-ruining pace and eye for goal was already the worst-kept secret in the Championship before the Gunners beat Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool to his signature. £5m up front, with future fees totaling out at £12m was the agreed fee, a vast amount of money for someone who has played just thirteen professional games. Clearly, Arsenal felt they were on to someone special.

Born in Newbury, Berkshire, Walcott was a sprint champion at school and an outstanding forward in junior football, his ability catching the eye of Southampton who signed him on an apprenticeship in 2004. His rapid journey from schoolboy football to first team starter at St Mary is made all the more remarkable by his slight physique; at just 5ft7" he would appear to be a little on the short side, but as one schoolboy team-mate recalls: People couldnt kick him because they couldnt get near him.

Five goals in thirteen starts for Southampton, dotted in performances that saw him run Championship full-backs ragged, confirmed his quality in the professional game, but the move to Arsenal still remains a gamble.

Arsenal was reportedly Walcott�s choice of club because of the support structure Arsene Wenger has in place for his legion of young players. Coming from a close family, the youngster perhaps feared the anonymity of Chelsea.

His first few months at Highbury proved to be eventuful to say the least. He may not have played at all for the Gunners throughout those months, but England coach Sven Goran Eriksson saw it fit to include the youngster in the squad to travel to Germany for the World Cup finals.

With Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen still not entirely fit, the decision to take only four strikers, one of them the inexperienced Walcott whom Eriksson admitted to having never seen play, attracted much criticism from the media.

When Rooney seemed off the pace and Owen sustained a serious injury during the group game against Sweden many expected Walcott would make an appearance. However, this never materialised and by the time England slumped to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal in the quarter-finals, Walcott had not played a single second of football.

Arsene Wenger therefore decided to take his first full season with Arsenal slowly and Walcott started only 13 games. However, one of those was the Carling Cup final against Chelsea in which the youngster scored his first goal for the club.

His first Premier League goals came in 2007/08, capping a fine campaign. He remains a fringe player, but Wenger is monitoring his development closely, and he is gradually turning into a hugely impressive star.

Players Profile: Francesc 'Cesc' Fabregas (Arsenal)

Spanish teenager Francesc 'Cesc' Fabregas signed for Arsenal in August 2003 from Barcelona, and made history just a couple of months later.

In October that year, Fabregas made his debut for the Gunners in the Carling Cup tie against Rotherham United at the tender age of 16 years and 177 days, making him the youngest person ever to play for Arsenal. He set another record in his second ever appearance against Wolverhampton Wanderers as his goal in that match made him the club's youngest-ever goal scorer.

As well as making such a big impact on his new club, Fabregas was also gaining international experience in the Under-18s World Cup, being named Player of the Tournament and winning the Golden Boot. If the 2003/04 season had given glimpses of his talent, an injury to Patrick Vieira at the start of 2004/05 gave the young Spaniard his chance to really shine and he certainly took it.

He showed no signs of nerves against Man United in the Community Shield and went from strength to strength in the opening games of the league season. He scored his first Premiership goal against Blackburn, aged 17, and has continued the steady ascent becoming a regular fixture in the team in the absence of more senior players. He made 45 appearances all in all, scoring two more goals along the way against Rosenborg in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Barclays Premiership.

In September 2004, Fabregas signed a new, long-term deal with the Gunners, with Arsene Wenger citing the youngster as "very much a part of the future of the club". In the 05/06 season, Fabregas delivered on his manager's promise by slipping into the midfield role Patrick Viera departed in summer 2005 with consummate ease.

He was arguably the Gunners' player of the season and made 49 appearances all in all, scoring four goals. His commanding performances in the Champions' League against Real Madrid and Juventus helped Arsenal reach the final of the competition and quickly endeared him to the hearts of the Highbury faithful.

He also played a small part in Spain's World Cup 2006 bid which ended disappointingly in defeat to France in the second round. Things got better in the 2006/07 season as he played nearly 50 games for Arsenal, scoring four goals along the way. He was nominated for the PFA Player Of The Year and PFA Young Player Of The Year, but was beaten on both counts by Cristiano Ronaldo.

With Thierry Henry leaving for Barca at the end of that season, Fabregas took over as the superstar of the Arsenal team in 2007/08. He was once again one of Arsene Wenger's most skilful and valued players, and although he ended the term trophyless again, it was an undoubtedly successful term.

History of Arsenal FC

Arsenal were formed in 1886 as Dial Square before becoming Royal Arsenal, Woolwich Arsenal and finally Arsenal. They began playing in South London but eventually moved to their present site in 1913. Arsenal hold the record for unbroken years in the top division having been there since 1919.

The legendary Herbert Chapman brought the glory years to North London during the 1930s when the Gunners won the league championship 5 times and the FA Cup twice and although the 1940s brought more trophies, their finest hour didn't come until 1971 when they became only the fourth team to win the league and FA Cup double.

Under George Graham in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they became known for resolute defending and grinding out results, earning them the tag of "Boring, Boring Arsenal", but also plenty of silverware.

After he was forced to quit over 'bung' allegations, the Gunners faltered in the mid 1990s, and it was only when Arsene Wenger arrived that they began to be a force to be reckoned with again. They won the league and cup double again, both in 1998 and 2002, and retained the championship in 2004.

Although they missed out on it in 2005 and their record unbeaten run ended after 49 games, they did manage to win the FA Cup. In their final season at Highbury, they almost celebrated the end of the old stadium in style as they battled their way to the Champions League final, though they were beaten 2-1 by Barcelona. Now they begin life at the Emirates Stadium.