Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 8y

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck 'a different animal again' - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck looks like he has his energy back again after suffering from fatigue recently.

Welbeck, 25, gave the Gunners attack an immediate spark when he returned from a nine-month injury layoff in February, but has found himself on the bench of late.

Wenger has opted to start Olivier Giroud up front for the last three matches despite the Frenchman not having scored in the Premier League since January.

But Welbeck came on to score the winner in the 1-0 victory over Norwich on Saturday, and Wenger said the forward has benefited from being rested.

"Welbeck came in and played very well [on his comeback from injury], like the players who have been out for nine months always do," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"You have to trust me on that, I know that well. After they come in they are super sharp and then after, against Crystal Palace, he had a very average game and looked a bit for one or two games like he had paid for the physical energy he had given.

"So you let them rest one or two games and you bring them back in. [Against Norwich], when he came on, you could see he is a different animal again."

Welbeck scored just three minutes after coming on against Norwich with a well-struck shot from just inside the box after Giroud set him up with a header.

Giroud's scoring drought has now reached 15 league games, but Wenger said his assist showed that he still brings valuable qualities to the team.

"A striker wants to score goals and when he doesn't, is it pure confidence or is it just to think, 'How can I score again?'" Wenger said. "They need goals. But he responds, he's a guy who is mentally strong. Today he gave an assist, I put that in the same category as a goal."

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