“Electric” Welbeck emulates Henry (and Bendtner!)

Arsene Wenger was quick to pour praise on hat-trick hero Danny Welbeck following Arsenal’s impressive 4-1 Champions League victory over Galatasaray at the Emirates. The England international has wasted little time in endearing himself to the Arsenal fans following his deadline day move from Manchester United, and his three goals against Galatasaray had some Gooners comparing the 23-year-old to a certain Thierry Henry. While those comparisons are probably a touch premature, there were undoubtedly shades of Henry in each of Welbeck’s three goals against the Turkish giants.

Playing as the main striker in front of a trio of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck grabbed a first half brace to put Arsenal in command of the match before rounding off an excellent night’s work with a third in the second half to complete his hat-trick and hand a few bluesq punters a nice return on their investment. The forward became only the third Arsenal player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, after Thierry Henry and Nicklas Bendtner, and Welbeck will now be hoping the rest of his Gunners career follows a similar path to the Frenchman’s rather than the Dane’s.

Welbeck scored 10 goals in 35 games last season for United but often had to do the majority of his work out of position on the wing. Since his arrival at the Emirates, the forward has been played in his preferred position as a main striker – scoring four goals in five games for his new club, and his manager has admitted the striker is exceeding his expectations at present.

“I knew he was quick but he’s electric. Hopefully that hat-trick will help him gain confidence. It always helps to know that you have a good chance to play in the next game. What’s good for me is that his link play is good as well. His teamwork and his work rate is at the level of the team,” said the Gunners boss.

All Hail the new Electric Welbeck!