Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Arsene Wenger has revealed the key ways Danny Welbeck‘s game has improved since his injury comeback.
In a remarkable show of confidence in the former Manchester United striker’s class, Wenger has also likened the England international to one of his greatest success stories, Thierry Henry.
Welbeck endured a miserable 2015 with injury, being kept on the sidelines for 10 months, but returned in startling fashion on Valentine’s Day, when he scored a late, dramatic winner against title rivals Leicester City.
Subsequently, Welbeck has found the net against his former club United, Watford and Everton, and appears to be returning to his best form.
In discussion with Arsenal.com, Wenger has expressed his belief that Welbeck’s main improvement has been psychological, rather than physical.
“I agree that he’s sharper,” the veteran coach began. “I think it’s not physical, it’s mental. He looks like he realised he has to add something to his game.
“Maybe he was frustrated as well to be out for the first time for a long, long period. It has loaded his mental determination. Before he looked not certain of his game when he came to the finishing but now he looks much more assertive in his game.
“Danny has all the qualities you need in the modern game. He has pace, he has stature. If he adds that finishing quality he has all you need.”
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Further extolling the virtues of his leading man, Wenger has likened Welbeck to both Gunners great Henry—who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups in north London—and Borussia Dortmund hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has found the net 22 times in 25 Bundesliga outings this season.
“We have seen that with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang now at Dortmund,” Wenger continued, “he was a very poor finisher on the flank. We have seen it with Thierry Henry. Hopefully we will see it with Welbeck as well.”