Wenger: Walcott belongs at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger feels deep down that Theo Walcott “belongs to Arsenal” despite his refusal, so far, to sign a new contract.

Walcott is currently in negotiations with the club over a new deal, as his current one expires in the summer.

While there appears to be no speedy resolution, Wenger maintains Walcott will not be sold in January and remains confident he will commit his future to Arsenal.

The big stumbling block between the two, unsurprisingly, is wages, Arsenal are offering Walcott a new deal worth £75k per week, whereas Walcott and his representatives are holding out for up to £100k.

I’m an Arsenal fan and I’m frankly bored of this mini soap opera that this become, couple of things, one Walcott is DEFINITELY NOT worth £100k a week it’s not even up for debate he just isn’t, he should be grateful to be offered £75k and he should take and if he thinks he’s worth more he should look elsewhere.

I’m also in total disagreement with all the ex-Arsenal players and many, many pundits who feel Arsenal can’t afford to lose him.

To that I’d say wrong, I mean I would like to see him stay as he has improved, if only slightly year on year, but those who say him leaving would be the same as when Nasri, Fabregas or van Persie left are just mad.  

In all honesty I think Arsenal would miss Walcott very little, he’s half way through his seventh season and has scored 53 goals in 238 games with 43 assists is that worth £100k a week, I think not.

And I don’t see why Arsenal should be pressured into to paying him wages he clearly isn’t worth for the sake of appeasing their critics, it just doesn’t make sense.

Apparently when asked about the negotiations Walcott produced the usual cliché of it’s not about money, well if that’s the case join the rest of the British players who all signed long term deals.

Not only that start playing like a hundred grand a week footballer who does it week in week out season in season out, not one or two games a month, you’re supposed to show through your performances that you justify being paid £100k a week, not demand it when you’ve shown you’re not worth it.