Theo Walcott ended his 12-year spell at Arsenal earlier this week as he signed for Everton in a £20 million deal.

Despite making 397 appearances for the north London club, scoring 108 goals, pretty much every Gooner will feel that Walcott failed to live up to his potential.

But it was clear his time was up at the Emirates after making just six appearances in the Premier League this season.

Incredibly, though, the winger enjoyed his second best goal return last season, scoring 19 goals in all competitions.

So what has gone wrong?

THEORY BEHIND WALCOTT'S DOWNFALL

Well, journalist Matt Scott, talking on the Totally Football Show, thinks he knows what happened.

"The reason why he's been bombed out of Arsenal is because of the comments that he made after the defeat to Crystal Palace, in which he was the captain, last season, when he said, 'we weren't prepared properly for the game.' Wenger, after that, has not played him, he has not started,” Scott explained.

Scott is referring to Walcott’s comments he made to Sky Sports last April after Arsenal lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace. Walcott said: “They wanted it more, you could sense that from the kick-off."

It was an interview that Jamie Carragher called “appalling."

And Scott’s theory can be backed up by facts.

Walcott was dropped for Arsenal’s next match and, although he started two weeks later against Leicester, he hasn’t started a Premier League match since.

He didn’t play in either the FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City, nor any part in the final against Chelsea.

What’s more, he’s played just 16 minutes of Premier League football this season.

Sounds like Scott could be onto something.

WENGER 'REGRETS' WALCOTT'S DEPARTURE

Meanwhile, Wenger’s comments when Walcott left for Everton was slightly odd with the Frenchman admitting he ‘regrets’ not playing him much.

"Personally I'm very attached to Theo, because he's a person who is intelligent, has complete integrity, total commitment and focus on his job," Wenger told a news conference on Thursday.

"I remember he arrived here at the age of 16 and went to the World Cup straight away. Of course when you look back, he's scored important goals in big games.

"We speak about cup finals or Champions League games, or the local derbies, where he put in outstanding performances against Tottenham. I just regret what happened, but he didn't play enough recently.

"I wish him well and thank him for everything he has done for us. He will always be welcome here."