"I'll Do Anything To Make Wenger Happy" - Welbeck

 

 The former Manchester United man thanked the Frenchman for playing him as a central striker in his first few weeks in north London, which paid off in a 4-1 win on Wednesday
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck vowed "to do everything" to make Arsene Wenger happy after scoring his first professional hat-trick in the 4-1 win against Galatasaray.

The England striker paid tribute to Wenger, who is celebrating 18 years since taking over the Gunners in 1996, for deploying him as a central striker since his arrival from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

He repaid that faith with three goals in 52 minutes in the Champions League on Wednesday, and says he is grateful to play in his preferred position. Continue reading.....

"I'm obviously delighted to get the goals but I think the most important thing was to get the points on the board tonight and we needed that after the first game in the group," Welbeck told Sky Sports.

"I'm playing up front, trying to score goals and get goalscoring opportunities, and tonight it paid off.

"Obviously [Wenger] has shown a lot of faith in me and I'm delighted to be playing tonight. Just giving me the chance to play football up front in my preferred position, I'm going to do everything that I can to make sure that he's happy."

The 23-year-old, though, did not have the match ball with him for the post-match interview despite scoring three times: "I forgot it, didn't I? I'll get it after."

Welbeck, who had been criticised for his finishing at times during his United career, says his third and final goal was his favourite of the night.

"I think the last one [was my favourite], I was stretching for that one and I've been in that position a few times, chipping the keeper, sometimes it goes in and sometimes it doesn't.

"Today I saw him coming out and maybe he thought I was going to nick it round him and he slid in so it was a custom finish."

Wenger, who took over at Highbury when Welbeck was just five years old, praised his new striker's performance and says his blistering pace gives him time to pick his spot when finishing.

"He had a great performance, I think he had the instinct of a goalscorer, he was more aggressive, and made great runs, and finished well the work of the team," he said.

"I think he has such good pace that it gives him time to finish calmly, and once players understand that their finishing improves a lot."

The Frenchman also said that Alexis Sanchez, who made it 3-0 in the first half but gave the ball away in the build-up to the Turks' goal, put in his best Arsenal performance to date.

"Yes, he played well and made some good passes, apart from for the goal we conceded, but apart from that I think he had a very good performance."