Arsenal and England star Walcott loves being his rivals target

London, Sept.19 : Arsenal and England's latest football star, Theo Walcott, says he is enjoying the fact that he has become the No.1 target of his rivals.

On Wednesday, Walcott received brutal treatment at the hands of Dynamo Kiev skipper Andriy Nesmachniy. He was battered so much that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed that Nesmachniy deserved three red cards.

"The referee should have sent off the left-back three times at least during the game."

Now it seems likely the country's new football hero will come in for some close attention again at Bolton tomorrow.

Walcott, on the other hand, said: "It's a nice feeling when a defender is scared of you straightaway. It always puts a smile on your face and you think you're going to win the battle. But you have to get at him. I got kicked a few times in Kiev, but I got up and got on with it."

Walcott, 19, featured for England in Barcelona against Andorra before his historic performance in Zagreb, when he bagged a brilliant hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Croatia nine days ago.

Then came a 4-0 win at Bolton, a difficult trip to Kiev and, tomorrow's trip to Bolton - his fifth away game in 14 days.

Walcott said: "It's been a very tough few days with a lot of travelling - Andorra, Croatia, Blackburn, Kiev and now Bolton. But it's been really good because I really just want to play, that's the main thing."

ANI