Everton exclusive: Sam Allardyce hails Theo Walcott’s goal record and backs £20m man to boost team

Sam Allardyce is expecting Theo Walcott to improve Everton's goal threat.

The winger ended his 12-year stay at Arsenal to join the Toffees in a £20m deal on Wednesday.

FULL STORY - Everton sign Theo Walcott from Arsenal in £20m transfer

Walcott, a double FA Cup winner with the Gunners, scored 108 goals in 397 appearances during his long spell in north London.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT on Thursday, Allardyce said: "Hopefully it is exactly what we need.

"It is interesting when you look at Theo's career and the number of goals he has scored is one of the key elements why we bought him, not just his pace and ability.

"He got over 100 goals at Arsenal and he is not a player that actually got a regular place apart from last season and that was his best season when he scored 19 goals. 

“Arsenal's change of system unfortunately hasn’t allowed him to get in much this season.

"A goal in every three games is more of a centre forward’s ratio but he is getting them in a wide position.”

Walcott is Everton's second attack-minded signing of the January window, with striker Cenk Tosun having also arrived at Goodison Park in a deal worth around £27m.

But while Allardyce is hoping the duo will boost his side's goalscoring threat, he admits that keeping clean sheets is his priority right now.

The Toffees have lost their last four games in the Premier League, shipping ten goals in the process. 

 "We've still got a little bit to do to get away from being dragged back into the relegation zone," said Allardyce, whose side host West Brom on Saturday. 

";Adding a striker and attacking wide player will hopefully give us more goals.

"I've got to try and revert back to a more defensive structure with the team again and try to get those clean sheets that gave us so many wins when I first came here.

"We simplified the game which helped. Played a simple game to get the basics right and build the confidence back up again.

"West Brom will be a tough game. Alan (Pardew) picked his first win up last week and I just hope we're not feeling the nerves again because we've not won for three matches."