Wenger Urges Gunners Board to Settle Walcott Situation

Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger, has urged the Gunners’ board to give into Theo Walcott’s contract demands before he is free to talk to other clubs.

The winger’s current deal at the Emirates Stadium expires at the end of the season, meaning that he will be allowed to sign a pre-contract agreement with anyone he wants and may leave North London for free.

Websites offering Premier League predictions will tell you that the Gunners were in a similar situation earlier this year with skipper, Robin van Persie, and they eventually allowed the Dutchman to join rivals, Manchester United, to ensure they made a profit on the player.

It previously appeared as if Walcott was set to extend his stay at the club, but he is still to reach an agreement with the board and chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, who has recently criticised the 23-year-old’s wage demands.

Another request that the England international has made is that he gets to play in his preferred position as a main striker, and he impressed in a rare outing in that role during his side’s Capital One Cup win at Reading on Tuesday.

Wenger has since hinted to the betting news that he could have his wish granted in the coming months and has urged the board to settle the player’s future.

"There is urgency. I want it resolved by Christmas. At the moment, I think we will still manage to make a deal with him,” the Frenchman said. 

"I always said it is important that he plays in the right position, and that certainly would be through the middle in the future; he showed that again on Tuesday night.

"He loves to score goals, Theo. He has good pace, makes excellent, intelligent runs, and what has changed with Theo is that he's become a very good finisher."