Arsenal attacker, Theo Walcott

Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott has insisted that his ongoing contract saga is not about money, hinting that it is because he wants to play in a more advanced role more often, reports Goal.com.

Walcott joined the Gunners from Southampton in 2006 and has made 150 appearances for the North London side, but the majority of them have been as a winger instead of his preferred role as a striker.

The 23-year-old English international is now in the final year of his contract but is rumoured to be holding out for a deal worth 100,000 pounds per week, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City said to be interested. The player has now denied that his financial demands have cause an impasse, though, but he has admitted some unhappiness over his deployment out wide.

“You have to ask the manager [why I haven’t signed a new contract],” Walcott told reporters. “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 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.”