Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott is sporting cuts around his eye after victory over Stoke City.

Walcott insists he enjoyed the physical challenged laid down by the Potters.

He admitted: "It happened during the Stoke game against Andy Wilkinson - it must have been an accident - might been hand and nails.

"There were loads of things happening off the ball which the linesmen and referee didn't see.

"A few people have said it makes me look a little bit harder but I honestly don't believe that because I am the biggest softie of them all. I might keep it and get a few more.

"I enjoyed getting whacked around against Stoke.

"It was a different test for me which, hopefully, I passed.

"The manager came to me afterwards and said, 'Well done', which was great. Now the test is to get my England career back where it should be.

"I have got quite a lot of caps at a young age so the next thing is getting into the starting line-up."