The 19-year-old England striker 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."

Arsenal face another tough away game on Saturday, when they take on Bolton in the late afternoon kick-off at the Reebok Stadium looking to stretch an unbeaten run to five games.

French trio Samir Nasri (knee), Abou Diaby (thigh) and Mikael Silvestre (muscular problem), the signing from Manchester United, are all not yet match-fit.

However, otherwise Arsenal have no fresh injury problems from their midweek trek to Kiev.

Wenger, though, suggested he may have to rotate the side.

"We have no injuries from Wednesday night and we have no-one coming back as well, so the group will be stable," said Wenger.

"For Diaby, I would say two more weeks [until he is fit], Silvestre and Nasri should be available for Hull [on September 27]."

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "There will be a little bit of rotation of course, because it was a very physical game and we had to give absolutely everything - but I cannot tell you yet how it will work."

Walcott could well be given another chance to strike fear into the backline with his blistering pace down the line - and it is a role he is relishing.

"When a defender is scared of you straight away it puts a smile on your face and you win the battle hopefully," said Walcott.

"I got kicked a few times against Kiev - but I have just got to get back up, and go back at them."

Arsenal, meanwhile, are expected to show continued improvement off the field when their latest set of financial results are published later on Friday morning.