According to a report by The Athletic published on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott has named Chelsea winger Estevao Willian as his standout performer in Premier League Gameweek 9, placing the Brazilian teenager ahead of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.

Walcott's recognition followed Estevao's impressive performance during Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. The youngster made his first Premier League start of the season under manager Xabi Alonso and delivered a display that attracted attention.

Rice was also among the players who impressed during the weekend after helping Arsenal secure a 1-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. However, Walcott ultimately chose Estevao because of his patience, attacking contribution and overall performance against United.

Speaking in a video shared on his official TikTok account, the former England international explained why he selected the Chelsea forward.

"The standout player, I might have gone for Declan Rice because seeing him perform the way he did against Liverpool was incredible up close.

"However, I’m going to go for Estevao at Chelsea, and the reason why I’m going for him is because he was so patient, and a lot of Chelsea fans have been wanting him to play.

"Two goals disallowed, of course, but not just that, his whole performance was outstanding from start to finish. So well done you."

Estevao's performance against Manchester United demonstrated his ability to trouble opposing defenders, despite having limited opportunities in the starting lineup since Alonso took charge at Chelsea.

According to Sofascore, the 19-year-old recorded three key passes, completed two accurate crosses and produced two successful dribbles during the encounter.

His attacking involvement was also reflected in his shooting statistics. Data from Squawka showed that he attempted six shots against Manchester United, the highest number recorded by any player during Gameweek 9. Three of those attempts were on target, also placing him at the top of that category for the round.

Although two of his efforts resulted in disallowed goals, his overall contribution earned praise from Walcott.

The recognition could further strengthen Estevao's case for more regular opportunities as Chelsea continue their campaign across multiple competitions. His performance has also given Alonso another reason to consider the teenager among his attacking options.