It is no coincidence that Theo Walcott has not started a single game for Arsenal ever since rejecting an improved contract offer from the Gunners, and Arsene Wenger revealed his frustration at not finding a solution for the 23-year-old.
Walcott is in the final year of his current deal, and is holding out for wages worth £100,000 a week ($162,000), after turning down Arsenal's offer of £75,000 a week ($122,000). Wenger admitted the issue was troubling him, and said he had not decided whether Walcott would start Arsenal's opening Champions League game against Montpellier.
"It can, but at the moment, I still hope to extend his contract so, at the moment, it doesn't affect me," the Arsenal manager said. "Of course at some stage ... if, in April, it's not done, you can think it will be difficult to do."
Walcott received a mixed reaction from the Gunners faithful in their home game against Southampton on Saturday, and the Frenchman admitted to being worried about the fan's response. "Is the fans' reaction a worry? It is," he said. "I think you want your players to be supported no matter what kind of contractual situation they are in.
"I hope it will not affect him and that it will not affect our fans. Theo has gone through a lot at 23 years of age. A lot of positives, a lot of negatives and he's level-headed."
Arsenal had given Walcott an ultimatum to sign the offered contract, even considering the forward's sale if he did not relent. The Gunners, however, decided to continue talks rather than let go of their player in the summer, with Manchester City and Liverpool reportedly showing the keenest interest.
Arsenal are still at a risk with Walcott holding all the cards, as the attacker can come to a pre-contract agreement with a club outside England, starting in January.
Wenger will also have another concern heading into Arsenal's fixture at Montpellier, with the Arsenal manager banned from the touchline for three games by UEFA.
Wenger was given a two-game penalty after he was found to be communicating with his bench while serving a touchline ban against Udinese in last year's Champions League playoffs. The Frenchman also received a further one-match ban for criticizing the refereeing in Arsenal's game against Milan, accounting for a total of three games.
"It is a nightmare," Wenger said. "Honestly, many people in UEFA, even (Michel) Platini, said that we should still let people work, even if they are suspended.
"It's part of the job and therefore a restriction of work. But I don't make a fuss of it. They love to suspend me. How should they punish people? Financially? But they do both. They punish you financially and they ban you.
"Honestly, nobody knows really, even at UEFA, what is allowed and not allowed. Let's not forget that I was suspended last year for having done what they told me I can do.
"When I went back there and said: 'Why do you want to punish me?' They said: 'Because you communicated with your bench.' I said: 'But you allowed me to do it.' They said: 'We made a mistake. But we are punishing you anyway'.
