But after scoring the goal that put Chelsea into the semi-finals of the Champions League, that would now be highly unlikely.

The England left-back's 87th minute winner on Tuesday night enabled Chelsea to achieve what they had failed to accomplish in the previous seventeen meetings with Arsenal - a victory.

"I'm now being talked about as a goal hero," the England full-back told The Times. "It's a bit strange and, quite honestly, the last thing I expected."

Bridge will have to adjust quickly to new-found fame, with photographs of his goal taking pride of place on the back pages of the majority of the national newspapers.

It earned Chelsea a lucrative tie against AS Monaco, who surprised everyone by beating Real Madrid 3-1 in their second leg and going through on the away goals rule after a 5-5 aggregate.

In the meantime, Bridge's goal is likely to be replayed on television screens around the world, increasing interest in him and bringing him to the attention of European football fans.

It was only his third goal since joining the club from Southampton in the midst of Roman Abramovich's multi-million pound spending spree that brought numerous high-profile international players to Stamford Bridge.

Bridge's two previous goals came in the 2-0 group match win over Besiktas of Turkey on 9th December, and in the 3-0 Premiership victory against Portsmouth on 28th December.

Until now, Bridge's dependably assured performances have largely failed to attract the same level of attention as those of some of his team-mates. All that may be about to change, and the goal could not have come at a more influential time for both player and manager Claudio Ranieri.

It will have given England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson additional food-for-thought as he considers his squad for the summer European Championship Finals in Portugal.

The same applies to Arsenal's Ashley Cole, his opposite number on Tuesday, who has been Eriksson's regular first-choice on the left side of defence.

Chelsea's progression into the Champions League last four may also go some way to easing the pressure on Ranieri, who has been working under difficult circumstances for some time.

Speaking at a press conference on the eve of last year's England game against Liechtenstein, for which he replaced the injured Cole, Bridge said: "There is more expectation of me now that I am an England player. That comes with football. The older you get and the more games you play."

Hopefully, the quietly confident Bridge will continue to meet those expectations, and prove to be equally as down-to-earth about the rise in interest following his match-winning goal.

Ironically, at the same press conference, Bridge also rightly predicted that his days of anonymity could be numbered: "I'm OK just strolling about and not getting recognised," he said. "It might change, but obviously that's something I have to deal with."

It's doubtful, however, that he foresaw it coming about in such style. Bridge has never hankered after the limelight, although even before his move from Southampton, where his international ambitions were first fulfilled, things had begun to progress for the former England Youth and Under-21 defender.

"I have to pinch myself to realise how quickly things have gone," he said after playing in the World Cup, only a year after his England debut.

Bridge also recognised how he has progressed as a player. "My confidence level has flown up. I am more confident on the ball, more composed and more aware of things around me on the pitch."

Since moving to Chelsea, Bridge has secured a regular first-team place and continued to enjoy his football. For that, he believes the manager must share some of the credit.

"Claudio has been great for me. He brought me here, he seems to like me and he seems to pick me," he told The Times.

"Claudio is always happy in training and, when we're winning, you can see the enjoyment on his face. I love watching him on television. He's great entertainment."