I hear that Arsenal and Theo Walcott’s representatives are set to meet today and indications are that Arsenal are ready to give into Walcott’s wage demands.
Arsenal had offered Walcott a new deal worth £75,000 a week, but the Arsenal striker has been holding out for £90,000 a week and it looks like Arsenal have decided to meet those demands.
The U-turn by the Gunners is their attempt to stop the England international joining one of their rivals on a free transfer in the summer with Manchester United and Chelsea among the clubs watching the situation.
Walcott has been really impressive in the last month or so playing in the more central role that has wanted for a while. His 14 goals this season, lead all Arsenal scorers, and he recently intimated he is set to agree terms to stay in north London saying:
“I’m sure that something will be sorted very soon. I’ve always said I wanted to stay and I enjoy playing for this team. Now we will just see what happens. I will continue to play my football and let the people who look after me and the club talk to each other and go from there.”
Arsene Wenger has played Walcott in a more central role over the past month or so, and Walcott has responded with goals and good performances. It appears that he has done enough to convinced the Arsenal board that he is worth £90,000 a week.
And you would have to agree with that assessment, If Walcott can keep progressing as a center forward, in 18 months, £90,000 a week might look very cheap for someone who is scoring 20+ goals a season.
Do you think that Arsenal should pay Walcott what he wants here? That signing him, on the back of the recent extensions to Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, send a message to Arsenal fans,mm that the spine of the Gunners will be more English going forward?
