Wenger welcomes Welbeck’s return to the fray as his Gunners turn their full firepower on sorry Saints
ARSENE WENGER heaped praise on Danny Welbeck after Arsenal romped to victory and into the fifth round of the FA Cup at St Mary’s.
Welbeck netted the first two goals in what was just his fourth outing and his first start since a second bout of serious knee trouble.
And to put the icing on the cake for Wenger, Theo Walcott got in on the act
with a hat-trick. The Gunners boss watched the game from the directors’ box, serving the first of a four-match ban for pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor during the 2-1 win over Burnley last weekend.
But they needed little direction with both sides making 10 changes to their starting line-ups. Wenger said: “We were very dynamic, explosive and overall we had a good consistent performance.
“Danny has been out for such a long time, I didn’t expect him to score straight away. He has had some difficult moments mental ly. But his resilience was marvellous and he was rewarded here.”
Welbeck said: “I’ve had experience of coming back from injury before so you kind of know what to expect. But it was good to finally be back on the pitch doing what I love, scoring goals, it’s great.”
Arsenal’s second string were superior, with 19-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles impressing from the base of midfield.
This was a far cry from Saints’ League Cup semi-final heroics at Liverpool. Welbeck’s double soon had the Gunners
in control, as the 26-year-old capped a fine training-ground move with a dinked finish for the opener. Lucas Perez and Maitland-Niles combined to send him away and the former Manchester United man calmly did the rest.
Saints had barely drawn breath when the Gunners doubled their lead, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s raking pass bisecting the home defence. Welbeck left Jack Stephens in his wake with another smart run before rolling the ball between the legs of keeper Harry Lewis and in for the second.
Welbeck then turned provider for the third, exchanging passes with Perez before whipping in a low cross for Walcott to get in front of Sam McQueen and flick home.
Southampton only had themselves to blame for the opening, as Stephens’ clearance cannoned off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to gift the visitors possession.
Arsenal had little need to send Alexis Sanchez into second-half action but did so nonetheless. And it was his accurate pull-back that let Walcott clip home his second and the visitors’ fourth goal.
And when the Chilean rolled the ball into the unmarked Walcott’s path, the former Saints forward easily completed his hat-trick to make sure of the Gunners’ place in the last 16.
Saints boss Claude Puel said: “I am responsible for the defeat but it is difficult for us with all these games.
“We had nine players not available and I had to protect some players as it is not possible to play every three days with the same players.”