THEO WALCOTT FROZEN OUT

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THEO WALCOTT FROZEN OUT

THEO WALCOTT has been warned he will not start for Arsenal again until he signs a new contract at The Emirates.

The England winger has featured for just 16 minutes in the last three Gunners games as boss Arsene Wenger plays hardball with him.

He will be on the bench again at Manchester City tomorrow as Arsenal freeze out Walcott while he refuses to sign a new deal – thought to be worth £75,000 a week.

And the north Londoners have made no effort all this month to speak to Walcott about an improved offer.

The 23-year-old expected talks to re-open after he told Wenger late last month he wanted to stay at The Emirates – and resist overtures from City, Liverpool and Chelsea, who were all willing to pay him more than Arsenal have offered.

Champions City were believed to have been ready to give him £140,000 a week.

Yesterday Wenger gave the biggest hint yet he was ready ship out Walcott when asked if the contract wrangle was the reason he was currently snubbing the ex-Southampton star.

“I haven’t picked him, it’s true and it’s quite a good question.” he said.

“I still hope to sign him and the next two months will be vital because after that, the longer this situation lasts the more difficult it is.

“Let’s hope we can find a solution in the next two months.”

Wenger is currently blessed with plenty of players who can play in a wide role.

They include Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Gervinho, Tomas Rosicky and promising German starlet Serge Gnabry, who is set to make his first-team debut on Wednesday in the Capital One Cup clash with Coventry.

Wenger did not deny he could allow Walcott to leave in January.

He added: “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.”

Aside from his salary, Walcott also wants rewarding for the promotional work he does for Arsenal, with him seen as the club’s poster boy.

He was one of the few Gunners players who had been at Euro 2012 to be told to go on the club’s pre-season Asia tour and he is looking to be rewarded for his image rights.

Despite the contract wrangle Walcott had told friends he wants to stay at Arsenal, but it now appears increasingly likely Wenger is ready to let him leave.