Theo Walcott admits making England's World Cup squad is pushing him to new levels at Arsenal.

The 28-year-old made just his fourth start of the season in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League Group H win over Red Star Belgrade here in Serbia.

When asked how prominent next summer's World Cup was in his thinking, Walcott told the London Evening Standard: “Of course. That is why I need to be playing football, simple as that. But I need to deserve to be playing.

“So in this competition, cup games, Premier League when given the chance, I need to take it. That is the only chance I have to get back into the England squad.

“It is down to hard work. If I work harder than anyone else… I know my qualities, how good I am. I have got so much experience under my belt, there's no reason why I can't prove people wrong and get back in that squad. It is a very young squad and I feel like maybe a bit of experience is always handy coming into tournaments. But the manager picks that.

"As a player, you need to be doing it on the field first and foremost. That's what I want to do. We'll see where my football takes me."