Press conference

Wenger on Walcott, Malcom and transfers

Theo Walcott's future at the club has been a hot topic this week, so what is the latest on the Arsenal forward?

Arsene Wenger discussed reports linking him with a move away, and also touched on his plans for bringing players in during the transfer window.

This is what he said:

on Everton wanting to buy Theo Walcott…

Again, I cannot tell you much more. Sam Allardyce has made that statement but Theo Walcott is here.

on Theo needing to play with a World Cup coming up…

Yes, of course. Everybody wants to play.

on whether he has told Walcott he’d like him to stay…

Yes.

on whether he has given Walcott assurances over game time…

No, because you cannot just do it, it’s not honest.

on whether he runs the risk of losing Walcott…

We will see, I have a good relationship with Theo and I don’t want him to be frustrated or lose an opportunity to go to the World Cup because Theo went to the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and we are now in 2018 and since he has not been for different reasons, so that is a sensitive subject.

on whether he’s looking to bring in any other players…

I don’t really doubt that. Not at the back, not in midfield and not up front - we are open, we are on the market, we are active. I don’t want to give you news that I can’t confirm after, though. In this transfer market, at the moment, it’s very difficult to come out with things as long as they are not signed because things can change very quickly.

on whether Malcom would be a replacement for Alexis…

He’s a good player but at the moment nothing is happening there. We are not on that case at the moment.