Arsene Wenger confirmed Olivier Giroud had signed a new contract for Arsenal, with the manager now set to lock in another vital player in Theo Walcott.
Giroud signed a new deal worth around £80,000 a week and while will keep him at Arsenal until 2018.
The France international striker had nearly two years left on his contract before inking the new deal, and the faith shown in him by Wenger and Arsenal will come as a huge boost as Giroud looks to recover from an ankle injury which has ruled him out until possibly 2015.
"It is done," said Wenger when asked if the Giroud deal was ready to be made public by the club. "We will complete it."
Next in line for a bumper new contract is Walcott, who only signed a new deal in 2013. However, with less than two years remaining on that £100,000 a week contract, Wenger is reportedly keen to secure the future of the 25-year-old, rather than, yet again, let his contract run into the final year.
Telegraph reporter Jeremy Wilson tweeted, saying Walcott is the next player set to sign a new contract with Arsenal.
"After new Giroud deal, the next big player due for talks will be Theo Walcott," Wilson tweeted. "His contract also up in 2016."
After new Giroud deal, the next big player due for talks will be Theo Walcott. His contract also up in 2016
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) September 29, 2014
Walcott has been a big miss for Arsenal over the last nine months, with the attacker still on the sidelines after a serious injury sustained in that unforgettable North London Derby at the Emirates in January.
The England international's pace and directness, coupled with goalscoring ability, has been sorely missed, and Wenger will certainly welcome Walcott's return, with the forward expected to resume full training next week, meaning, hopefully, he should be back in contention for a place in the Arsenal squad after the international break.
"Walcott is joining in full training next week," Wenger confirmed. "It's very good news. Serge Gnabry as well.
"Theo's return is a big thing for us. Let's not forget that he got injured on 1 January and we are now in October. That's [nine] months and we had to wait for a long time."
Arsenal will have one of the fastest forwardline in the Premier League with Walcott's return, if Wenger decided to play the England man in a three-pronged attack alongside Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.
