Walcott eyes England
LIKE Everton, Theo Walcott has got his mojo back. And after finding the net for the second time this season, the former Arsenal star also has the goal of returning to the England fold.
Walcott personified the new adventurous Everton under Marco Silva in this helter-skelter draw.
Last season, the silly first-half dismissal of Richarlison here would have seen Sam Allardyce’s side try to hang on for a draw.
Instead, they gave a dashing display worthy of a top-four team until Bournemouth bravely battled back to level.
And Walcott, signed in January, was at the forefront of the fullthrottle counter-attacks that led to the opening goal and a red card for Bournemouth’s Adam Smith.
“You’re always going to be judged on your goals and assists, so I’m very pleased with how I’ve started,” he said.
“I had virtually no pre-season because I had an ankle injury but I have managed to get straight back into it. You can sense the style we’re playing is completely different and I’m enjoying it.”
Walcott, the youngest England player, won the last of his 47 caps in November 2016. Gareth I joined,” he added. “And then if I play well, who knows?
“Obviously one thing is to get back into the England squad. I haven’t been in there for a couple of years and hopefully I’ll get back. You always want to play for your country.”
After Walcott’s 56th-minute opener followed by Smith’s dismissal and Michael Keane’s towering header after 66 minutes, Everton could have sealed only their fourth away win in 28 league games. But they are a work in progress. Josh King got one back from the spot in the 75th minute after a Leighton Baines push on Callum Wilson and Nathan Ake equalised four minutes later. Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser said: “It’s good character to come back but we shouldn’t have to keep doing it. But we have seven points from three games so we can’t be too disheartened.” Keane suffered a small hairline fracture of his skull in a collision with team-mate Idrissa Gueye and will be sidelined for three to four weeks.
BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-2): Goals: EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Goals: Sent off: NEXT UP: