Walcott, Cazorla extend Arsenal contracts

England forward Theo Walcott and Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla have both agreed contract extensions with Arsenal, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

Walcott, 26, announced on Twitter that he had signed a four-year contract, but the length of Cazorla's deal was not disclosed.

"We're delighted to have extended the contracts of Santi and Theo," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website. "Both are top quality players who are hugely important and influential to our squad.

"As well as their huge contributions on the pitch, they both have a great deal of experience and are very popular off the pitch.

"We're very pleased with them both signing contract extensions, as it provides our squad with further stability of quality."

Walcott tweeted a picture of himself wearing Arsenal's home kit and standing beside the Emirates Stadium pitch, accompanied by the caption: "This is my home! Happy to have signed a new 4 year deal."

Neither Walcott nor Arsenal revealed financial details of his contract, but British press reports estimated that it is worth around £140,000 ($218,000, 199,000 euros) a week, putting him on a par with the club's top earners.

Walcott missed the early part of last season due to a knee injury sustained in January 2014, making his first appearance in November and his first start in January.

But he finished the campaign strongly, netting a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on the Premier League season's final day and scoring the opening goal in Arsenal's 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup final.

Having signed from Southampton aged 16 in 2006, Walcott is Arsenal's longest-serving current player and has made over 300 appearances for the club, scoring 76 goals.

Playing in a deep-lying midfield role, Cazorla, 30, enjoyed a fine 2014-15 season and was Arsenal's most-used player with 53 appearances.

The Spain international signed from Malaga in 2012 and has made 148 appearances for Wenger's side, scoring 27 goals.
Source: AFP