Arsene Wenger has a word with Theo Walcott during training

The Arsenal manager is taking his tough stance after Walcott rejected the club’s offer of a new £75,000-a-week deal. Walcott, whose current contract runs out at the end of this season, is hoping to get closer to £100,000 a week, which would make him one of the best-paid players at the club. Chelsea and Liverpool are both interested in the England winger and Wenger does not want the contract talks to drag on into next year. “The longer this situation lasts, the more difficult it is,” said Wenger. “Let’s hope we can find a solution in the next two months. “Will I sell him in January if he hasn’t signed? It will depend on the needs of the team and the club. We can afford to go to the end [of the contract] if needed.” More...

I still hope to sign him and the end (of the contract) if needed Arsene Wenger

“I still hope to sign him and the end (of the contract) if needed,” added Wenger, who has not started Walcott in recent games. Fans gave Walcott, 23, a mixed reception when he came on as a substitute against Southampton last Saturday and Wenger said: “I haven’t picked him, it’s true. I still hope to sign him and the next two months will be vital. “The fact he doesn’t play regularly at the moment is right, but it’s not necessarily linked with his contract situation. Whether or not we increase the offer, that is between him and us.” Wenger has one major player on the brink of a return with Jack Wilshere in full training and the boss is sure he will come back an even better player after 14 months out with ankle and knee injuries. “I am certain he will be a better player,” said Wenger.

“If you have this kind of injury at 20 you will take off again and move forward normally. If you have the injury after 25 it is different. At his age it’s no problem.” Wenger said there is no danger Wilshere will struggle to regain his form, like former Arsenal player Eduardo did after rupturing ankle ligaments in a match at Birmingham in 2008. He said: “Eduardo has limitation in his ankle. Jack has no limitation, it was just a fracture. “Eduardo had a rupture of his ligaments and in construction they had to tie up his ankle, so once you lose your flexibility of your ankle you are, of course, not the same player. That is not the case for Jack.”