Former Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott has identified Chelsea forward Estevão Willian as his performer from Premier League gameweek nine, placing the teenager ahead of Declan Rice despite the Arsenal midfielder’s influential display against Liverpool. In a report published by The Chelsea Chronicle on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Walcott’s choice followed Estevão’s impressive contribution to Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian was handed his first Premier League start of the season under new manager Xabi Alonso and made the most of the opportunity. He repeatedly troubled United’s defence with his movement, technical ability and willingness to take on opponents, producing an energetic attacking display that attracted praise after the final whistle.

Walcott recognised that Rice had also delivered an excellent performance in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. However, he ultimately favoured Estevão, explaining that the youngster’s patience and overall influence made him deserving of recognition. The former winger discussed his selection in a video shared on his official TikTok account.

“I might have gone for Declan Rice because seeing him perform the way he did against Liverpool was incredible up close,” Walcott said. He then explained his decision to choose the Chelsea player, praising his patience and the way he responded to supporters’ calls for more opportunities. Walcott also highlighted the teenager’s complete performance, despite seeing two attempts disallowed during the match, and congratulated him on his display.

The two disallowed efforts meant Estevão narrowly missed the chance to mark his first league start of the campaign with a goal. Nevertheless, his influence was clear beyond those incidents, as he remained a constant threat and helped Chelsea maintain pressure on their opponents.

His performance was also supported by the numbers. Sofascore recorded three key passes, two accurate crosses and two successful dribbles from the 19-year-old against United. Those figures illustrated his creativity and ability to contribute in different areas of the attacking game, rather than relying solely on attempts at goal.

Squawka’s statistics further underlined his attacking involvement. Estevão registered six shots, with three finding the target, making him the leading player in both categories across gameweek nine. His shooting output demonstrated how frequently he found opportunities to test United’s defence, even though neither of his disallowed efforts counted as a goal.

Alonso also praised the youngster after the match, recognising the contribution he made after being trusted with his first Premier League start under the Chelsea manager. The opportunity appears to have given Estevão an important platform to demonstrate his readiness for a greater role in the side.

Chelsea now face Sunderland in their next Premier League fixture, and Estevão’s display against United could strengthen his claim to retain a place in the starting line-up. Competition for selection remains part of the process, but his performance has provided Alonso with encouraging evidence of what the teenager can offer. If he maintains this level of confidence, creativity and attacking purpose, he could become an increasingly important option as Chelsea continue their campaign.