Wenger wants Walcott stay

Arsene Wenger hopes Theo Walcott fulfils his potential as a striker at Arsenal.

Contract talks between player and club have stalled with the Gunners unwilling to meet Walcott's wage expectations, while his demand to play in a central role is also a sticking point.

The 23-year-old underlined his goalscoring threat by firing a hat-trick in Tuesday night's thrilling 7-5 Capital One Cup victory over Reading, and Wenger said: "Theo was superb last night. I always said that he will be a striker, so we are on the same wavelength there."

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