Theo Walcott claims that his delay over the signing of a new deal is not due to money issues and reinstates his desire to stay at Arsenal and acquire legendary status as a striker. HeĀ insists that he wants to stay at the club and emulate his idol, Thierry Henry, by playing as a central striker.
Walcott joined the Gunners from Southampton in 2006 and has made 150 appearances for the north London side, though the majority of these have been as a winger instead of his preferred role as a striker.
The 23-year-old is now in the final year of his contract but is rumoured to be holding out for a deal worth Ā£100,000 per week with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City said to be interested.
But Walcott denies that his financial demands have created an impasse, though he admits that he is unhappy over his deployment out wide.
āYou have to ask the manager [why I havenāt signed a new contract],ā he told reporters. āItās his decision.
āI 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.
āI definitely want to play up front. I think Iāve learned my trade as a winger now.
āI remember when Thierry Henry joined at 22 and the legend he was. Hopefully I can be the legend he was as well in that up front position.
āIt 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.
āIn the summer I had opportunities to leave but I didnāt want to go and I have never said I wanted to go. Iāve always wanted to be an Arsenal player and hopefully something can be sorted.
āIt 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.ā