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Boss - What Welbeck needed was a chance

Arsene Wenger believes Danny Welbeck's performances this season have helped the striker to "gain more respect".

Welbeck has started the 2014/15 campaign well, scoring 10 times for club and country since moving to Arsenal.

Olivier Giroud could return to the squad against Manchester United and Wenger feels the pair can provide healthy competition for each other.

"He’s now one of the main players in the national team and he showed that again in Scotland"

"There’s always a fight because we have a lot of offensive options," the boss said. "Welbeck can play in different positions up front and there is room for both of them to start in some games. Of course it is a fight.

"I always respected Danny and I always felt that he had a great future. What he has achieved in the last few months has certainly allowed him to gain more respect, especially for the English national team as well - he’s now one of the main players in the national team and he showed that again in Scotland.

"You can take every challenge in a positive way and that’s what Danny did. I believe that you have to understand Louis van Gaal had not had Welbeck under his command for a long time, and it’s always very difficult to know the players well when you see them for three or four weeks.

"Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have an exceptional goalscoring record - he had two quality players in front of him. What he needed was a chance."

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