Arsenal legend Ian Wright would be disappointed to see Theo Walcott leave north London , and believes his troubled times at the club are down to Arsene Wenger 's refusal to play him as a striker . Walcott has made just five starts for Arsenal this season since returning from a serious knee injury after seven months on the sidelines . And with Arsenal pursuing Raheem Sterling and Walcott 's contract set to run out next summer , Wright is worried that the Gunners could stand to lose a valuable player . Theo Walcott could be on the way out of Arsenal , and Gunners legend Ian Wright says that would be ' a shame ' Wright enjoys Walcott as a player and hinted that he would like to see the winger stay at the club . Walcott started up front for England against Italy on Tuesday but his appearances have been limited this year . 'It 's a shame for him , and the fact that people are talking about him maybe moving on if someone else comes in makes me quite sad , ' he said . ' I really like him at Arsenal but he 's got massive decisions to make in the next few months . ' Wright also believes the England wideman , who was played in a central role for his country in Italy on Tuesday night , should have been moved into a similar position for his Arsenal . Walcott 's pace had seen him likened to the Gunners ' record goalscorer Thierry Henry , who made a similar positional switch during his time in north London , but manager Wenger has only briefly experimented with Walcott as a striker . Thierry Henry was prolific as a striker for Arsenal after being moved inside from his familiar wide role . Arsene Wenger has only briefly used Walcott up front , and Wright says it should have been persisted with . Liverpool 's Raheem Sterling is an Arsenal target who also has his contract expiring in the near future . ' I always believed Theo should have been a striker at Arsenal with his pace . I thought playing him on the right would last so long and then he would get moved inside , ' Wright told Goal . I 'm not saying he 's the same kind of player as Thierry Henry by any stretch , but I thought Arsene would move him inside . ' I think that 's been to his detriment , because he would have learned a lot more about the game and runs he 'd have to make . I 've seen him finish very well when he gets into one-on-one situations . '
Theo Walcott 's contract with Arsenal expires at the end of next season . the striker has made just five starts for his club this campaign . Ian ##ton says it would be ' a shame ' to see Walcott signed permanently . The rumours have been linked to signing Liverpool 's Raheem Sterling .