Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied claims that winger Theo Walcott has not played more games for the Gunners because he has yet to sign a new contract at the club.

The England international's future at the Emirates has been called into question as the 23-year-old has yet to come to an agreement with the club's board over a new deal.

Walcott has also dropped down the rankings within the team and despite netting a hat-trick in the Gunners' League Cup win over Reading in midweek, the winger was benched for Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend.

"It is nothing linked to his contract at all," ESPN quotes Wenger as saying. "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."

Walcott is a doubt for tonight's Champions League match against Schalke 04 due to illness.