Walcott/Arsenal in showdown talk

Theo Walcott will hold fresh contract talks with Arsenal as he prepares to take his place on the club’s tour of Asia that begins on Saturday.

The England international returns to pre-season training in the next 24 hours following his summer break and is expected to then thrash out his future with the club.

Walcott will be on the flight to Kuala Lumpur that leaves on Saturday for the first leg of the club’s Asia tour, although it is not yet guaranteed that he will be joined on the plane by Arsenal’s other high-profile contract rebel, Robin van Persie.

It is understood that discussions will swiftly take place with senior officials, including manager Arsene Wenger, about breaking Walcott’s contract stalemate.

The north Londoners have put together a four-year package for the 23-year-old in a bid to tie him down beyond the summer of 2013, when his current agreement expires.

But contract talks have not progressed since two informal meetings last December and Walcott is believed to be seeking personal assurances from Wenger about where he fits into the manager's plans.