Vermaelen: Walcott has been invaluable

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen feels Theo Walcott is invaluable to Arsenal — but accepts there is little his team-mates can do to stop the England forward walking away at the end of the season.

Walcott was deployed in his preferred central striker’s role at Reading on Monday night, where he netted the final goal in a 5-2 win which lifted the Gunners back up to within two points of fourth place.

The 23-year-old is currently in negotiations over a contract extension with the club but as the January transfer window looms, there is little indication of a swift conclusion.