Bentley: I'm the new Theo Walcott.

Arsenal reject and occasional England midfielder David Bentley said after England's 4-1 win last night that "I'm the new Theo Walcott."

Walcott, 19, is breaking into the Arsenal side and has just become England's youngest-ever hat-trick scorer - at the same age, David Bentley was perhaps the fifth or sixth best player in Norwich City's ill-fated Premiership campaign of 2004-2005.

But Bentley - who started one League game for Arsenal - has ceased comparing himself to Dennis Bergkamp, Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham, and now compares himself to the younger, better, less t**tty Walcott.

"Theo and I are very similar," says Bentley, who was booed on his England debut, and continues to be booed at all Premiership grounds. "He likes to run at players, take them on, beat them with his pace and score spectacular goals. But also I don't really do any of those things with regularity, I do take a good free-kick, and I'm really good at comparing myself to much better players."

Bentley also added a cryptic message to England manager Fabio Capello, and the England supporting public.

"Pay attention to me! PAY ATTENTION TO ME!"

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot, Sep 11, 11:40:52