The FA have confirmed that Arsenal could be eligible for up to £1.5million in compensation for Theo Walcott's injury while on England duty. The FA insure all players on international duty and up to £100,000 per week can be paid out to clubs by the organisation's insurers.

Under the FA's insurance deal, Arsenal could claim £50,000 for the first two weeks Walcott is absent, and £100,000 per week thereafter up to a maximum period of almost two years. If he is out for the predicted 16 weeks, that could mean £1.5million in compensation.

An FA spokesman said: "The FA is one of only a handful of national associations who voluntarily insure our players against injury while on international duty. Almost all foreign international players who play for English clubs will not have been insured in this way.

"The policy pays up to £50,000 per week for the first two weeks out of action through injury and up to a ceiling of £100,000 per week after that, to a maximum of 100 weeks.

This compensation is paid by the FA's various insurers, not the FA itself.

"Our policy also provides up to £50,000 of medical expenses and provides compensation for permanent total disability in the case of career-ending injury incurred while with England."