Arsene Wenger is determined for Arsenal to reap the rewards from Theo Walcott's "peak years" by opening negotiations over a contract extension.
The 25-year-old has a little over 18 months to run on his existing deal, having signed on for a further three-and-a-half years in January 2013 after protracted negotiations.
The Frenchman now hopes to thrash out another extension in a bid to secure the England winger's prime years - but joked that the process is never "easy" with Walcott.
"We are starting to sit down with him," Wenger told reporters. "I think he has one-and-a-half years to go in December. It is never an easy job with him.
"It should be [his peak years]. Because he is 25, it is the best years, so hopefully we can profit from that."
Walcott, who has 69 goals for the club, is poised to make his first start since January in tonight's Champions League clash with Anderlecht at the Emirates Stadium.
Shane Callaghan
