Walcott warned over demands

Arsene Wenger says he will not break Arsenal's wage structure in order to keep Theo Walcott at the club.

Walcott has yet to pen a new deal with the Gunners despite having just under 12 months remaining on his current one but Wenger has always remained confident he will eventually sign. However the Frenchman says he will not break the bank to secure the winger's future and he will have to stay within the club's wage structure or move on. "We have got our general overall wage structure and we are not prepared to break it for anybody," he said. "We have made an offer which he didn't think was acceptable and that is the end of it. We think it is a very reasonable offer. "For the moment his people are still talking to us and we hope it will be resolved. But don't ask me when, because I haven't a clue. "I hope that he will eventually come round and sign. It will be a pity if he does not, but the whole issue of pay for footballers has got totally out of hand and they don't get terribly well advised a lot of the time." Walcott has always said his decision will be for football reasons, not money, but it seems as though his wage demands are the reason he has not signed as yet. Chelsea and Manchester City are both keeping tabs on the situation.