Arsene Wenger says that while he was not surprised by Theo Walcott's hat-trick against Croatia, England supporters should not expect the Arsenal teenager to recreate that performance on a regular basis.

The Arsenal manager has joined the chorus of praise for Walcott on the back of his hat-trick against Croatia last night, however he warned that his achievements must be kept in perspective.

"I am not surprised," Wenger said. "Because he is a player who has good timing with his runs and is a clinical finisher who can score goals, but I always believed that he will be a fantastic player and I was never concerned.

"For me, most of all is that he continues to develop as a team player. What happened yesterday we have to consider to be an exception - even for players of 25, 26 to score three goals in an international game is a one-off.

"The potential is there - but do not make him Thierry Henry before he is Thierry Henry. One game is one game, a career is something different, it is consistency.

"I am convinced it is in him, but let it get out and give him time."

Walcott, who was signed by Arsenal from Southampton in January 2006, was a controversial selection for Sven-Goran Eriksson's ill-fated World Cup squad later that year before he had even made his debut for his club. However, Wenger says the decision to hold the 19-year-old back, has paid off.

"At the start of the season Theo had made a step forward and you could see that in training," Wenger added. "Theo has become more of a man and more mature in his game, developed his link play, his first touch, his commitment - and there is still a lot to come from 19 to 23 years old.

"He can play down the middle, but at the moment, I do not believe he is ready. He is still learning his job on the right or the left, sometimes through the middle - but block him against the line and then show us you can do it because that makes it easier for us in the middle."

When asked just how far Walcott could go in the game, Wenger said: "Don't set any limitations on any human being because once you have talent the rest is down to how much you want it and to how intelligent you are.

"I believe he is hungry in a quiet way - quiet determination - and he is intelligent. You can be very optimistic. The rest is down to injury and being regularly at the top level."

Despite being thrust into the limelight, Wenger said he was impressed by the way Walcott handled himself in the wake of his performance.

"I listened to his interview after the game this morning and I was as pleased with his interview as with the three goals he scored," Wenger said. "I am not sure if I had scored three goals in an international game I would have given the same interview. That shows he is a good analyser, clever, well balanced, feet on earth.

"Straight away after the game he analysed the consequences of what happened to him last night and how he has to deal with that. I feel that is more important for his career than the three goals he scored because that shows a great sign of intelligence and maturity."