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WALCOTT BRUSHES OFF HENRY COMPARISONS

Walcott - is his own man.

Theo Walcott maintains he is his own man and not the new Thierry Henry as the Arsenal forward looks to make this a breakthrough season for both club and country.

The 19-year-old was included in the full England squad once again for the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

Head coach Fabio Capello had twice been at the Emirates Stadium last week to see at first hand how the attack-minded youngster is coming along.

Although Walcott made only a cameo appearance off the bench in the win over Newcastle on Saturday - when he missed a sitter - it was his performance in the Champions League demolition of FC Twente, managed by the man who dropped him from the national team in Steve McClaren, which will really have caught the eye of the Italian.

It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride for the former Southampton trainee, who arrived at Arsenal in a big-money move during January 2006 and was a controversial selection for Sven-Goran Eriksson's ill-fated World Cup squad that year when he had yet to make his debut for the Gunners.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been impressed with Walcott's recent improvement - but again called for patience.

Nevertheless, his impressive display against Twente and the manner in which he took his fine goal have once more drawn comparisons with former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, whose old number 14 is now worn by the England youngster.

Walcott, though, insists he is not looking to fill anyone's boots other than his own.

"I learnt so much from Thierry, but it was my own finish and I quite like to score goals like that," the Arsenal striker said.

"People always say it is like Thierry, but I am not bothered.

"It is nice to be compared to him, of course, but I want to be my own player."

The England forward, who has two full international caps to date, added: "It was good to get my first goal early on this season.

"Last year I left it quite late, but then they kept coming, so hopefully I can carry on scoring now I have got the first one out of the way.

"I think my touch has improved this year and my link-up play has definitely improved.

"I need to just get into the games, keep running at players and to flow nicely."

Wenger, meanwhile, firmly believes Walcott is heading in the right direction.

The Arsenal manager said: "Theo has a spontaneous insight, strong finishing and a calmness in front of goal, but also I believe you have to give him time.

"People forget that when Thierry Henry joined us in 1999 he did not play in the first four or five months, and he was 22 at that time - three years older than Theo is today."

Walcott is one of several Arsenal players away on international duty this week.

Striker Robin van Persie is expected to join up with the Holland squad despite suffering an ankle knock in the 3-0 Barclays Premier League win over Newcastle, after scoring twice.

Wenger admits the timing of the latest round of international matches could have been better.

"It is frustrating for all the managers, but maybe more when you are involved in the Champions League," he said.

"There is no time to regroup when players are playing far away. When they come back we go away [to Blackburn]."

Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre is expected to be in contention for his belated debut, delayed because of a thigh problem, after the break from Premier League action.

Arsenal face a gruelling travel schedule as they must play away to Ewood Park and then have a European tie against Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine to safely negotiate before returning to domestic action at Bolton on September 20.

By then, Wenger will know just what players he has to go into the rest of the year with.

Arsenal were keen to bring in at least one more midfielder today, and may yet come up with an 11th-hour move to land Spain international Xabi Alonso from rivals Liverpool.