Walcott: Arsenal contract saga is not about money

Theo Walcott has hit out at reports that his contract stand-off with Arsenal is to do with money.

The England international’s current deal expires at the end of the season, but he is yet to put pen-to-paper on an extension.

Reports have suggested that Walcott is holding out for a bumper offer of around £100k a week and talkSPORT understands that Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all monitoring the situation.

But he has distanced himself from a move away from the Gunners and insisted he would have left the club in the summer if he was only in it for the money.

“You have to ask the manager [why I haven’t signed a new contract],” Walcott said. “It’s his decision.

“In the summer I had opportunities to leave but I didn’t want to go and I have never said I wanted to go.

“I’ve always wanted to be an Arsenal player and hopefully something can be sorted.

“It is going to take time, my last contract took over six months to happen and it is one of those things where you just have to be patient. It is going to take time.

“It has never been a money situation, I am not that sort of player. I have always made decisions about football. If it had been about money I would have gone in the summer.

“I love Arsenal and I love playing with my teammates and hopefully something can be sorted and I can get back in that team and get a chance to play up front.”

The FA and Mars are offering a week of free Just Play sessions from October 8th. Search online for Just Play