The 19-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise since joining Southampton as a trainee and then being bought by Arsenal in a big-money deal in January 2006.

Now a Gunners regular and also part of Fabio Capello's England side, Walcott grabbed the headlines when he smashed a hat-trick against Croatia last month.

The teenager, though, maintains football was not initially on his radar when growing up in Berkshire.

"Football did not really interest me until I was 10, I did not even know it existed, it was funny really," Walcott told Arsenal TV Online.

"Athletics stood out for me when I was younger, I liked the 100 metres.

"When I did start playing football, I was in goal - and that was because I really loved the penalty shoot-outs, where I could save it and be the hero.

"Then I started playing for AFC Newbury, and scored more than 100 goals for them in just one season. It was basically just a long ball over the top and I would run on to it, I scored six in my first game.

"It was just natural for me, but although I was excited [after Southampton's interest], I was not really like, 'wow, I am going to be a professional footballer'.

"I just enjoyed playing and did not think I would be where I am now."