Arsene Wenger says Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has been playing with a point to prove as he prepares for his first reunion with former club Manchester United on Saturday.
Welbeck has impressed for the Gunners since his £16 million
($25.1 million, 20 million euros) transfer deadline day switch from United.
The England international’s five goals in 12 appearances
have gone some way to silencing the critics, including United boss Louis van
Gaal, who said Welbeck wasn’t up to the standard required at Old Trafford.
Arsenal manager Wenger knows he has benefitted from
Welbeck’s determination to show he can make it at the highest level and he
expects the forward, a boyhood United fan who had been at the club for 11
years, to be fully motivated when United come to the Emirates Stadium this
weekend.
“You can take every challenge in a positive way and that is
what Danny did,” Wenger said.
“You have to understand Louis van Gaal did not have Welbeck
under his command for a long time and it is always very difficult to know the
players well when you see them for three or four weeks.
“Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have an exceptional
goalscoring record — he had two quality players in front of him, so what he
needed was a chance.
“What is important is that the player makes a good career
and has a good opportunity.”
United, like Arsenal languishing well behind leaders Chelsea
after a spluttering start, received a fresh blow during the international break
when Dutch midfielder Daley Blind sustained a knee ligament injury likely to
sideline him for several weeks
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