Walcott and Cazorla Signs New Contracts

Arsenal on Friday announced that Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla have signed new deals at the club. Theo Walcott has signed a four year extension to his current deal.

The 26 year old is currently Arsenal's longest serving player having arrived at the club in January 2006, making over 300 appearances with 76 goals to his name.

After what has developed into something akin to a contract saga his signing of a new contract will come as a boost to the club ahead of the new season.

While Theo Walcott's new contract will be well received by the Gunners faithful, it is Santi Cazorla's announcement that would have come as a surprise. Like Walcott, the ambidextrous Spaniard was entering the final year of his contract, and he has been linked several times to a return to Spain with Altetico Madrid a possible destination.

The 30 year old arrived at Arsenal in 2012 from Malaga. And after reinventing himself as a deep lying midfielder last season alongside Francis Coquelin, he would now be looking to build on what was a huge season on a personal level.

What this means to Arsenal?

For several years, Arsenal have struggled to keep the core of its players. With key players like Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy jumping ship in search of silverware in the last couple of years, but with the change in the financial landscape at the club, Arsene Wenger can now easily grant contract extensions to players while readily offering them terms that would suit their status vis-à-vis what they have offered the club. Besides that, the club can now win silverware evidenced by two consecutive FA Cup triumphs.

Also players like Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin and Oliver Giroud are just a few who have signed new contract extension in the last couple of seasons.

The club can now pursue a sustained policy of stability by building on what has been achieved off the pitch, on the pitch. With the current squad, the team is primed to put together a sustained title challenge.

Santi Cazorla has consistently proved himself since he arrived at the club in 2012. Whereas, Theo Walcott's time at the club has been blighted several times by injury, his last contract extension signed in January 2013 did not benefit the club, as he spent much of the time injured. He only returned fully into the squad in the second half of last season. With this new contract taking him well into his 29th birthday, the onus is now on him to prove his true worth to Arsenal by first staying fit, and secondly by scoring goals. Many would also want to see a Theo Walcott that will add some defensive side to his game by working hard for the team's cause when he is played on the wing.

With most of his appearance in pre-season coming as an out-out striker, it would be interesting to see whether Arsene Wenger sticks with that formula during the course of the coming season, especially with its attendant risks against certain opponents.

In the end, it is a win-win situation for Arsenal as they have successfully secured the future of two key players. Santi Cazorla would now be expected to play well into thirties at the club presumably in his new found deep midfield position.

For Arsene Wenger, and Arsenal it is boost for the new season.