it's becoming as regular as clockwork at arsenal: a theo walcott contract saga just over two years after signing a £90,000 per week deal, the winger's future is again in the spotlight as arsene wenger so jovially put it last week, contact has been made with 'the embassy' (walcott's representatives) about a contract extension arsenal forward theo walcott comes on from the bench against monaco, is now not a guaranteed starter  but just like two years ago, there are no guarantees walcott will commit perhaps, even more so this time ever since recovering from a serious knee injury that kept him out for the majority of last year, walcott has been on the peripheries walcott was flying before injuring his anterior cruciate ligament against tottenham last january he'd established himself as an integral member of wenger's first team plans walcott sprints away in celebration having scored against leicester during the 2 1 victory last month  theo walcott wants a significant pay rise if he is to sign a new arsenal contract  since then, though, the landscape at arsenal has changed alexis sanchez has arrived, so to has danny welbeck walcott is no longer indispensable in addition to sanchez and welbeck, there is santi cazorla and alex oxlade chamberlain to contend with walcott no longer walks into this team so, with that in mind, does he warrant a pay rise? that's the question arsenal's moneymen will be asking themselves over the coming weeks because that's what he wants; a hefty hike on his current £46million per year deal can you justify paying someone in excess of £100,000 per week who isn't a first choice option for the manager? the england international gestures at tottenham fans after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament last year  the arsenal hierarchy are likely to argue not and all that points to one thing: another walcott contract row you can understand where walcott's representatives are coming from at the age of 26, this could be his last big contract his advisors have a duty to secure the best possible deal for their client there will certainly be takers for walcott if he leaves this summer liverpool and manchester city are both monitoring the situation closely the fact he has pace and is english (helping homegrown quotas) means he will be a valuable commodity if he's made available for transfer walcott has faced increased competition for a starting place in the arsenal attack this season  as for arsenal, they have four options the first is to meet his demands, the second is to try to reach a compromise the third is to let him enter the final year of his contract, which opens the door to walcott leaving for nothing next year fourth is to sell him this summer it's a game of poker we're waiting to see who'll blink first walcott will be hoping to earn a similar amount to gunners star man alexis sanchez on £140,000 per week  walcott looked certain to leave the emirates stadium in 2012 after rejecting a new contract wenger managed to persuade the speedster to stay and his subsequent performances led to the gunners improving their offer, which was signed in january 2013 there will be a similar incentive for walcott this time, too but will he spend enough time on the pitch to make a similar impression? things change maybe it's time for walcott to make a change, too
100,000 england theo walcott around £90,000 walcott arsenal £46m
theo walcott is currently earning around £90,000 per week, £46m a year  walcott is holding out for an arsenal pay rise before signing new deal  england international hoping for sum north of £100,000 per week  click here for all the latest arsenal news 