Arsene Wenger makes move to keep 'peak' Arsenal star Theo Walcott

ARSENAL have opened talks with Theo Walcott to ensure they keep him for the peak years of his career.

Theo Walcott training at ArsenalTheo Walcott is back to full fitness after almost 10 months out with injury[GETTY]

Walcott is 25 and his contract runs out in the summer of 2016, so Arsene Wenger is moving swiftly to tie down the England winger.

"We are starting to sit down with him," said Wenger. "I think he has one-and-a-half years to go in December. It is never an easy job with him.

"It should be [his peak years] because he is 25, it's the best years now, so hopefully we can profit from that."

Walcott returned to the Arsenal team on Saturday for the first time in 10 months after suffering a knee injury in January. He came on as a late substitute in the 3-0 win against Burnley and received the biggest cheer of the day at the Emirates when he ran on to the pitch.

Wilshere ruled out with virus [AMBIENT]

He looked sharp and Wenger said he would be happy for Walcott to go with England next week, but was more cautious about starting him in tonight's Champions League game at home to Anderlecht.

"He needs competition and games so I'm happy for him to go with England," said Wenger. "For us, it's a rest period with no one here, and he needs hard training."

Arsenal will be without Jack Wilshere tonight as he is suffering from illness with Wenger admitting there is a virus in the camp, and that Aaron Ramsey had suffered the same last week.

It is the third autumn running that Arsenal have had a sickness bug among the players. Two years ago, Wenger banned his players from shaking hands before the West Ham game and ordered the dressing rooms at the training ground to be disinfected after four players were struck down with a coughing and sickness bug.

And last November, three players were laid low before the trip to Manchester United with Arsenal losing the game 1-0.

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