WALCOTT - which position is best etc?

[g88ner]

Bet if this poll was posted after the 5-2 win v Sp*rs the outcome would be totally different. People have very short memories.

That Sp*rs game summed Theo up for me.

When Sp*rs sat back and denied Theo space in behind, he was useless - in fact, he was utterly clueless in that first 45 minutes.

It was only in the 2nd half with the game stretched and their defence all at sea did Theo take charge.

What we need are players who perform when we need to break teams down, and I think that's where Theo struggles. He was a passenger against Sunderland and until he finds a new dimension to his game (something I've given up on) then he should be a squad player. Chamberlain will leave him for dust.

[OneBardGooner]

The way contract negotiations are conducted at Arsenal is negligent. Both players and commercial.

Players contracts should be renegotiated two years before they expire.

If no new deal is signed, it gives us time to sort out a replacement plus retains a good value on the player.
Worse comes to worse the player stays for the penultimate year of the deal if we fail to find a replacement.

If I remember correctly, that is how it used to be done - when david dein was still at Arsenal....how tings have changed...Dein may not have been everyone's cup of tea, but gazidis is inept and needs replacing asap.

[Barriecuda]

No. You don't want to be here, gtfo.

This club has done so much for him and then he holds us ransom to a contract. As if he's even good enough to warrant doing that.

I'll pay my money to support players who appreciate the club (and what it's done for them), thank you very much.

[Seanyboi]

Walnut staying put

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... -t-be-sold

Sky Sports sources understand Arsenal and Theo Walcott have reached a short-term agreement which means he won't leave the club this week.

Walcott met with Arsenal on Wednesday in a meeting which included manager Arsene Wenger to discuss his future.

Reports had claimed that the Gunners were ready to sell the England winger this week, after failing to agree a new contract with him.

Walcott's current deal has less than 12 months to run, and he was being strongly linked with deadline moves to Manchester City and Liverpool.
However, Sky Sports sources understand that the player and club have agreed that he will remain with the club beyond this Friday's transfer deadline.

[1989]

What utter shambles this club is.

[Gunnersaurus]

Who would we get in that is better in the space of 2 and a bit days? If he was to be sold it should have been done at start of the summer so a better replacement could be brought in. If Theo does leave Yossi will be brought in as a stop gap.

He's already here and already twice the player, it ain't hard to replace Theo, why are you making out like he's van Persie?

[begeegs]

I can almost guarantee that Walcott is off on a free next summer. Wenger will never learn....

[Gunnersaurus]

I do not for one minute believe our penny pinching club would go along with that.

Its not in their nature, in the last year we have seen 2 identical cases.

[donaldo]

What utter shambles this club is.

Do you honestly think Fergie would let a player stay into his final year after they refused to sign a contract?

Wenger has persuaded him to stay but not sign a contract.Cant believe Kroenke has flushed just £12M down the toilet

[swimmer1]

So has he signed say a year contract then talk again next year?

[QuartzGooner]

Who would we get in that is better in the space of 2 and a bit days? If he was to be sold it should have been done at start of the summer so a better replacement could be brought in. If Theo does leave Yossi will be brought in as a stop gap.

He's already here and already twice the player, it ain't hard to replace Theo, why are you making out like he's van Persie?

Surely that is a key point?

It should be easy to replace Theo, we have seen Johnson go from Man City to Sunderland this week for a fee that I reckon would be less than we get for Theo.

But we have not bought a replacement, and that suggest the club want him to stay.
I think Theo wants to stay too, but get as well rewarded as possible.

The stalling of contract negotiations could be down to many things; my guess is that Theo's agent is a tough cookie trying to do his best for his client.
I do not always agree with Arseblogger, but he suggested that image rights rather than wages were the main sticking point, and that sounds believable for a player who does have a higher marketing value than others.

I do not buy this "Prima Donna" or "Large Ego" thing people try to tar Theo with, he is a very down to earth bloke who has avoided the scandals that have enveloped some of our other players over the years. Sure he shouted at Jenkinson once which looked wrong, and got straight on the train after the Stoke game (perhaps he was not happy having been put on the bench?) but otherwise he is a positive character who I have seen first hand take time out of his personal time to help out charity events.

[Nos89]

Not clear what argreement has been reached. Could this mean we see him play in his favoured central role, review his performance, then sell or sign in January??

[Gunnersaurus]

How do you not know that Chamberlain wasn't bought as a long term replacement?

Or Cazorla to go there if he left and another midfielder come in????

Its not hard to fill his spot.

He's not a 30m player that we will struggle to replace and replace with a better player.

[donaldo]

But we have not bought a replacement, and that suggest the club want him to stay.
I think Theo wants to stay too,

We dont need a replacement for him we have the Ox who has overtaken him at Arsenal and at international level it took 5 mins for Hodgson to realise that
Yes Theo wants to stay for £100k a week something he is not worth

[begeegs]

The thing is that come January, he will more or less be ok to speak with other clubs which means probably a better salary and a better signing on fee. Even if the wages aren't as much, who is to say that the signing on fee will not make amends for that.

He may sign on, but it would be in his best interests to go on a free next year.