In an effort to put an end to unfounded reports, Theo Walcott addressed his contract situation with Arsenal and news that he and manager Arsene Wenger are at odds.
A report last week suggested the English international was seeking a significant pay raise, with hopes of securing a new contract that would pay him north of £100,000 per week.
His lack of playing time since returning to the team after missing 11 months with a knee injury added to speculation about his unrest, with suggestions he and Wenger are at odds because of Walcott's unrealistic demands and his failure to maintain a position in the starting team.
It apparently became too much for Walcott to take, as he uncharacteristically addressed the rumours on his Twitter account Thursday.
I don't normally comment on false stories about myself but reports about contract demands & bust-ups with the boss are complete nonsense...
— Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) March 26, 2015
There have been no contract talks as yet and my current focus is not on contracts but on doing my best for Arsenal FC.
— Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) March 26, 2015
Walcott, who's on international duty with England, returned to Arsenal in November after tearing his ACL in January 2014. However, he suffered a separate injury soon after and spent much of December on the sidelines.
He's only managed one start since making his return in January, with a majority of his appearances coming off the bench.
While his performances haven't indicated a dip in form, Arsenal's recent run of successful results may be preventing Walcott from earning a consistent starting spot, as Wenger elects to field teams with few to no changes while they continue to produce positive outcomes.
- With h/t to Sky Sports