Wenger: I’ll Replace Walcott With Big Name If He Leaves

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has teased fans by claiming Theo Walcott will be replaced by ‘another big name’ unless he commits his future to the club before January, according to ESPN.

The 23-year-old winger is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates and has so far been unable to agree terms over a new deal. Theo is believed to be holding out for £100,000-a-week while we’ve only offered £75,000-a-week, but another main sticking point seems to be the position he’s played.

Walcott is keen to be given more playing time up front and is reluctant to put pen-to-paper on a new contract without being given assurances he’ll be given a more regular striking role.

Arsene Wenger remains confident an agreement can be reached but has set a deadline of the end of December for the situation to be resolved either way, opening up the possibility that Walcott will be sold in January if he hasn’t signed a new contract. The boss has now claimed that if he does leave, he will replace him with ‘another big name or make another big name’.

“It’s always important to keep your best players but if it should happen that Theo goes, we’ll replace him with someone, another big name or make another big name,”

Wenger is quoted as saying by ESPN.

Replacing Theo with ‘another big name’ would require us to spend a sizeable amount of money. So knowing Arsene, given the chance i think it’s safe to say he’ll chose to go with option number two and ‘make another big name’. Wouldn’t you agree?

Read more Arsenal transfer news

Perhaps that’s why Wenger has introduced Gnarby to first team proceedings during the last couple of months so see how he adapts to life in the first team squad? There has been a lot of talk about getting Zaha from Palace but now’s he’s played for England i think we’ll have to pay silly-money for him, so my bet is if Theo hasn’t signed by January 1st he’ll be off to Liverpool, Chelsea or Man City and we’ll promote from within.

What do you think Wenger will do if Theo leaves? Sign someone or promote from within? Get involved in the comments section.