Football: Wenger denies freezing Walcott out

Walcott has not agreed to the terms of his new deal since he wants be given a chance to play as central striker.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made it clear that not putting Theo Walcott in his first team had nothing to do with the uncertainty surrounding his contract extension, according to Sky Sports. Walcott has not agreed to the terms of his new deal since he wants be a given a chance to play as central striker before he commits his long-term future to the Gunners. “It is nothing linked to his contract at all,” said Wenger. “It’s because I have played other players, simple as that. We started the season well, he was injured too. You do not want to base your contract negotiations on one game. I put him in straightaway for one game when he was not completely ready. He started to practise and on Saturday he played 38 minutes of a game — you can’t say he’s not played.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2012.