The 19-year-old has found himself once more the centre of attention following his superb hat-trick against Croatia in the recent World Cup qualifier.

And it is not just from the media - with Dynamo Kiev captain Andriy Nesmachniy singling Walcott out for some special attention during the Champions League clash in Ukraine on Wednesday night, which left Gunners boss Arsene Wenger seething.

More scrutiny both on and off the field is set to follow the former Southampton trainee, who arrived at Arsenal in a big-money move two-and-a-half years ago and went on to be a controversial selection for Sven-Goran Eriksson's ill-fated 2006 World Cup squad.

However, now an established player for both club and country, Walcott knows there is still plenty of hard work ahead.

"I am just myself. I just concentrate on every game as it comes, training well, that's all I can do," the teenager said. "I do not want to get ahead of myself.

"I love playing for club and country - that is what I want to do.

"Being 19 and playing for Arsenal, starting in the Champions League, it is brilliant."

Of all the extra attention since his stunning display in Zagreb, Walcott said: "I think it has touched my family more than me. We have a few paparazzi outside our house for a long time, but I have just got away from it all. That's what I do - concentrate on my football."

Given his improvement this season, Walcott could be forgiven for thinking about negotiating a new deal with Arsenal.

For now, though, the 19-year-old is focused with matters on the pitch.

"I am not into all that, I just want to concentrate on my football and hope it goes well," he said. "Everything else will come with that. The main thing is the football and winning trophies."