Arsenal forward Theo Walcott knows he has the world at his feet this season - and does not intend to waste the opportunity.
The 21-year-old was a controversial omission from Fabio Capello's ill-fated World Cup squad, only to be welcomed back into the England fold following the dismal display in South Africa.
Walcott produced a stunning individual display with a hat-trick as Barclays Premier League newboys Blackpool were ripped apart 6-0 at Emirates Stadium.
The former Southampton trainee netted a famous treble for England in their World Cup qualifying victory away to Croatia during September 2008, but has drawn criticism for lacking an end product.
Walcott has turned all of that into a positive, but knows there is plenty of hard work still ahead.
"This is the season where I have to push on, so hopefully I will get more opportunities to play," Walcott told BBC Sport.
"I am 21 and should be playing games every week now.
"I have had a lot of criticism, but I can take that.
"It has been very good criticism at times, because it has been an extra boost for me."
Walcott continued: "Last season I was unlucky with the injuries, but I had a good break during the summer, and just want to show people what I can do, prove a few people wrong, to play well for Arsenal and England.
"That is all I can do, I will keep my feet on the ground as I always do and look forward to every single game."
Wenger sees Walcott eventually developing into a central striker's role.
"What was pleasing with Theo was that he made right decision in final third and was calm in front of goal," said the Arsenal boss.
"He could finish, but also give final balls. That shows he improves."
Arsenal briefly topped the fledgling Premier League table on Saturday, before champions Chelsea chalked up their second successive 6-0 victory of the new campaign.
Wenger said: "We have a big word to say in the championship and want to show that week in week out. We have made a very good start."
The victory over the Seasiders - who had opened their first top-flight season for 39 years with a remarkable 4-0 win at Wigan - may have ended up being comprehensive, yet the outcome could have been different but for two key moments in the first half.
Just after Arsenal had taken the lead, the hosts were almost caught cold when full-back Stephen Crainey sent over a deep cross from the left, which dropped to Gary Taylor-Fletcher at the far post, but his downward header was just wide.
Then, in a decision which baffled Tangerines boss Ian Holloway, referee Mike Jones awarded a penalty when Ian Evatt had fouled Marouane Chamakh - despite the initial contact having been outside the area - and as the last man showed the defender a straight red card.
Andrey Arshavin crashed in the spot-kick, and from then on it was a case of how many the rampant Gunners would score.
Walcott added a third five minutes before the break, with a smart turn and finish into the corner, before Abou Diaby swept home a fourth at the start of the second half.
The England forward completed a first hat-trick for Arsenal with another well-taken goal while summer signing Chamakh, who had missed several chances, headed in a sixth late on after World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas and runner-up Robin van Persie had been eased back into action with a run-out for the final 30 minutes.
Holloway may continue to lament the referee's decision, but was in awe of Wenger's side.
"I thought it was a penalty at best, but then to send him off ridiculous - it absolutely ruined game as spectacle, but we would probably have been beaten anyway," said Holloway.
"After the red card it was then damage limitation, some of the football Arsenal played was world-class and they could have scored more."
Holloway, though, intends to make the most of the Tangerines hard-earned top-flight adventure.
"It is a joy for us to be here - we'll have to take a few humblings, but I am not that disappointed to be honest," he said.
"It is a long hard road, but our lads have to get up and get on with it."
