By Rob Draper

PUBLISHED: 17:30 EST, 8 December 2012 | UPDATED: 17:30 EST, 8 December 2012

Arsenal are in danger of losing England star Theo Walcott after his contract talks hit fresh delays.

Arsene Wenger's team got their season back on track with a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion that lifted them into sixth place in the Premier League.

But Wenger has admitted he is frustrated that a new deal for Walcott, who is out of contract in June, remains unsigned.

Committed? Theo Walcott could be on his way out of Arsenal

Committed? Theo Walcott could be on his way out of Arsenal

Talks have been delayed because of the England winger's recent injuries, meaning the matter is now unlikely to be resolved until the New Year, when Walcott would be free to sign a deal with a foreign club.

The delay means Walcott, who is Arsenal's top scorer this season with 10 goals, will have an increasingly strong negotiating position, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all showing interest in signing the 23-year-old.

Walcott's representatives and Arsenal's negotiator, Dick Law, were due to speak this month to establish whether the club would increase their 80,000-a-week offer.

But Walcott's main concern was to confirm that he would be a regular starter.

Both the club and Walcott had agreed to suspend negotiations until he had a run of games.

Stalled: Walcott's reluctance to sign a new deal has left Arsene Wenger frustrated

Stalled: Walcott's reluctance to sign a new deal has left Arsene Wenger frustrated

While he had started the four Premier League matches prior to yesterday's win, which he missed because of a calf strain, this and other injuries mean both club and player will have to wait several weeks before judging whether his long-term future is at the club.

There is no sign that Wenger is prepared to use Walcott as a central striker, which remains his ambition.

But the prospect of losing Walcott, who joined Arsenal from Southampton for around 9million in January 2006, is worrying Arsenal fans.

Back on track: Mikel Arteta scored twice from the penalty spot

Back on track: Mikel Arteta scored twice from the penalty spot

The comments below have not been moderated.

There will be a day the board members finally realise the fans will have had enough of how the club sorry business is run and not go to the games. By then it will be too late to turn things around and the clubs will be on a sloppier slope than now. Wenger can find only a certain amount coal and turn them into diamonds. Quite simply Arsenal who need an owner who will not solely think about lining his pockets for his american "franchises" or his fantastic ranch that cost 80 million which would have brought 2 or 3 special players for the club

Report abuse

Frankly, whilst there have been some exceptional performances, Walcott is too in consistent. He and his agent obviously have a higher opinion of him than the manager and the fans. Another lucky boy plucked and developed by AW who only thinks of his selfish and greedy self. Sell him and be done with it.

Report abuse

He has not indicated to me that he wants to stay at Arsenal,so, if you are not committed then sell him. He has had a lot of injuries of late. In the past AW has been patient and he has grown in confidence but he is not the finished article by any means. He should be rewarding that earlier faith put in him. Theo you are a lucky young man but you are not as good as you think you are and the grass always looks green on the other side doesn't it? Can you now make a decision for all our sakes, sign the contract or go.

Report abuse

Come to Manchester United Theo!

Report abuse

denilson, squilachi, bendtner, djourou, arshavin, chamakh, fabianski, park all surplus to requirements = saving approximately 300-350k a week but no way of getting rid of these players permanently when they wont get anywhere near this amount anywhere else! 15 million a year in wages down the drain. Makes Arsene's statement that we can not afford to pay big wages look stupid. It is the mismanagement of the money already available that is the problem in my eyes. Also feel Walcott has been sly. In recent interviews he continually reinterates he wants to stay and that he could have gone elsewhere in the summer. Seems it was a clever ploy to con the club into keeping him into the final year so that he could leave to chase the big wages on a free.

Report abuse

Not condoning theo's behaviour but if arsenal want to commit with the best, they have to pay top wages thats the way football is now.

Report abuse

This penny-pinching nonsense is a joke when you consider how much the club still wastes on the likes of Squillaci and Chamakh each and every week. The wage structure of the club is its biggest problem in my opinion, with no player earning more than 90k/wk, yet the club have a wage bill that has grown to a whopping 143 million per year because we overpay unproven talent as well as underachieving "baggage".

Report abuse

If Theo leaves Arsenal over a difference of just 5-10K a week, then both parties will lose out ultimately...

Report abuse

Who does this guy think he is? Maybe if he consistently performed well, instead of 3 games a season. He has no end product.

Report abuse

dont understand the kid to be honest, he would rather go to a average team like liverpool then stay at arsenal and become a star for as little as 20 grand less a week, your getting abit big for your boots and greedy mate, if you leave arsenal your be a nobody i promise you that.... - surfer179, romford essex, 8/12/2012 23:58 An average Liverpool team won the league cup last year whats the last thing arsenal won something or other 7 years ago was it. Muppet.

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.