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‘Welbeck looks a different animal again’

Welbeck v Norwich City

 By Rob Kelly

Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck looks a “different animal again” after not starting the past three matches for Arsenal.

The England international stepped off the bench against Norwich and scored the only goal of the game within three minutes of his introduction.

Wenger says Welbeck needed a rest after giving so much to the team following his recovery from knee surgery - and he should be back to his best now.

"You could see he is a different animal again"

Arsene Wenger

“Welbeck came in and played very well [on his comeback], like the players who have been out for nine months always do,” the manager said.

“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 that he 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.”

Wenger also believes that Olivier Giroud’s assist against the Canaries will help his confidence levels, after a run of 15 Premier League games without a goal.

“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?’” he 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.”

Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal against Norwich

Danny Welbeck scored the decisive goal against Norwich