Theo Walcott finally signs contract extension

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has finally put an end to the speculation regarding his future at the North London club, penning a three-and-a-half year deal with the side.

The contract extension is expected to throw cold water on long-standing rumours about Walcott’s move away from the Gunners to another Premier League heavyweight, with manager Arsene Wenger expected to be pleased to have finally secured the services of a player who could have left the Gunners for free over the summer.

Rumours suggest that the club had offered Walcott a five-year contract worth a reported £90,000-a-week , along with a signing-on bonus worth around £3 million.

However, Walcott’s advisors were clearly in favour of a shorter deal, and finally decided on a three-and-a-half year deal, also settling disagreements between the club and the player over matters of image rights.

Walcott, who has scored 14 goals in 24 games this term, was primarily used as a substitute in the early part of the season by Arsene Wenger, but in recent weeks has been a regular starter for the Gunners, even being handed his preferred central striker’s role on certain occasions.