There are a lot of Arsenal transfer rumours this week suggesting that our England international forward Theo Walcott, who was called up again by Roy Hodgson this week, is demanding a pay rise in talks with the club over an extension to his current contract which will enter its final year this summer.
You do not have to be a genius to guess that Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal board are not too keen on bowing to the 26-year old´s demands and will obviously be trying to get the best deal for the club. But what about us fans and what we think. Do we think Theo is worth more than the £100,000 he is supposedly on now? Do we even think Walcott should be given a new deal or should he be sold and replaced?
I am using a report by tsmplug.com on the Arsenal player salaries, which may not be exact or may have changed since the start of the season. Assuming it is correct though, it shows that Walcott is the third best player, along with Giroud, at the club behind Ozil and Alexis who are apparently on £140,000 a week.
The last time Walcott signed a new contract was in the middle of his best ever season as a Gunner, when he scored 21 goals and bagged a hatful of assists to boot. Some fans might say that he has not done anything in the two years since to prove that he deserves more or even the same, but we should remember that those two years have been plagued by injury. He was showing great form before that injury after all and an in form Walcott gives Arsenal something that no other player does.
It is a tough one for Wenger, that is for sure, and it brings up the old debate about our wage structure as well. When you see that Chelsea pay the likes of Costa, Fabregas, Hazard and John Terry around twice what we pay Walcott, you can understand the player’s point in wanting a raise. But then again, does he deserve to get more than players like Ramsey and Cazorla?
Personally I think Arsenal need to see something really special from Theo between now and the end of the season for him to have a chance of a bumper new contract. What do you think?