Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has pledged his commitment to the club, saying he desperately wants to stay with the Gunners, and hinted that his playing position in the team is the basic reason stopping him to sign a new contract.
Walcott said he joined Arsenal as a center forward and wants to play in that position for the club, dismissing suggestions that he is not signing a new deal because of monetary issues.
Arsenal has offered Walcott an improved contract worth £75,000 a week, but he has yet to start a game since August.
"I have always wanted to stay at Arsenal and I hope something can get sorted out and I can get back playing. I never wanted to go and I've never said I wanted to leave," the Daily Mirror quoted Walcott, as saying.
"Hopefully something can be sorted and if it doesn't I will be disappointed, I can't lie. It would be a shame, but you just have to move on and accept it," he added.
"Hopefully it won't come to that, hopefully we can get something resolved because I love the club, I love playing for the manager, for the team and we have made some great new signings that have settled in very well," he said.
Walcott is likely to be given a start against Coventry at home in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, and hopes it will be as a striker.
"Playing as a centre-forward is a major priority for me. Playing up front is definitely one of the factors," Walcott said.
"I am not affected by money. It is a case of having trust in me up front. I have learnt my game on the wing," he added.
"But I was signed as a striker and when you look at what I did last year, I think I can do even more. Hopefully, I will be given the opportunity," he said. (ANI)
