Arsenal's Robin van Persie

Former boss does not believe club will hold onto star striker

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Former Arsenal boss George Graham believes Arsenal should sell Theo Walcott and they they risk losing star striker Robin van Persie.

The Gunners have endured an awful few weeks after being dumped out of the FA Cup by Sunderland, while they look likely to exit the Champions League following their 4-0 first leg defeat at the San Siro.

The Gunners are 17 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City and are in a battle with Newcastle and Chelsea are the final Champions League spot.

And Graham believes players are likely to leave.

"Some players at Chelsea and Manchester City are earning 175,000 a week or more," the Scot said in The Sun.

"For Van Persie, this will be his last big contract. He'll be 29 when his contract finishes and hes going to be looking for a four-year contract, maybe even five. You can't expect Arsenal to pay that knowing that in his last two years he probably wont be a regular in the team.

"I would let Walcott go. He was a promising boy but his potential has never really been fulfilled. He has still got fabulous pace but hes been there five years and I cant see a great improvement."

Arsenal's fight for the final Champions league spot resumes on Sunday when they face Tottenham in the north London derby.

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