Arsene Wenger has reiterated his desire to keep Theo Walcott at Arsenal following his hat-trick in Sunday's end-of-season 4-1 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Walcott, playing in his preferred central role, underlined his importance to the Gunners in devastating fashion with a first-half treble to stun the Baggies at the Emirates.
The 26-year-old's future in North London has been subject to much debate in recent weeks after he and the club reportedly reached an impasse with contract negotiations.
"Without his hat-trick or with his hat-trick, we want him to stay. We are in negotiations and we have started to speak with his agent," he told the club's official website.
"We did that before he scored his hat-trick. Last time he got injured he was playing centre forward in a very convincing game against Tottenham Hotspur in January.
"He got injured and was out for a year. On that day he was injured playing up front."
Walcott's existing deal expires in 2016.
Shane Callaghan
