Battle for places is inspiring Walcott.

Byline: Jim van Wijk

THEO Walcott believes competition for both his Arsenal and England place will "bring the best" out of him.

The 20-year-old forward marked his return from his latest fitness problem, a back injury, with a goal when coming off the bench during the Gunners' 6-2 League win over Blackburn on Sunday.

Although England manager Fabio Capello was in the stands at Emirates Stadium, the Italian coach opted against handing Walcott an instant recall to the England fold for the World Cup qualifiers against the Ukraine and Belarus.

Walcott netted a brilliant hat-trick in the away victory over Croatia last season before suffering a shoulder problem which required surgery.

Then this summer he was a controversial selection for the England Under-21s at the European Championship in Sweden.

Another enforced absence at the start of this season has allowed the likes of Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips to both stake their own claim for a place on the right flank.

However, Walcott - who hit the headlines when he was taken to the last World Cup by Sven-G|ran Eriksson as a raw teenager - is ready to rise to the challenges ahead this season, which will hopefully end in South Africa.

"It is always great having competition because it brings the best out of you," said the Arsenal forward. "England has a great squad with a great bunch of lads and it is the same for Arsenal, with fantastic, world-class players.

"At the moment I am thinking about trying to get back into the Arsenal starting line-up and I am not really thinking about the World Cup. I will just try to keep playing well and see where it takes me."

While Capello continues to stress nothing is certain as far as his final squad for South Africa is concerned, expectation of just what this side can achieve next summer continues to grow.

England head to Ukraine with their World Cup place already secure following a 100% record from eight matches so far.

Former national team manager Eriksson, who will be part of internet broadcaster Perform's live coverage for Saturday's match in Dnipro, believes the hype can be both "dangerous" and yet "beautiful".

"Expectation will be like always -the closer to the World Cup, the more favourites England will be," said Eriksson.

"In one way it is a little bit dangerous, but in another way it is beautiful because all of the country will breathe football.

"Maybe now expectation will be even bigger because of the way they have qualified."