Arsene Wenger says Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has been playing with a point to prove as he prepares for his first reunion with former club Manchester United on Saturday.
Welbeck has impressed for the Gunners since his £16 million ($25.1 million, 20 million euros) transfer deadline day switch from United.
The England international's five goals in 12 appearances have gone some way to silencing the critics, including United boss Louis van Gaal, who said Welbeck wasn't up to the standard required at Old Trafford.
Arsenal manager Wenger knows he has benefitted from Welbeck's determination to show he can make it at the highest level and he expects the forward, a boyhood United fan who had been at the club for 11 years, to be fully motivated when United come to the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
"You can take every challenge in a positive way and that is what Danny did," Wenger said.
"You have to understand Louis van Gaal did not have Welbeck under his command for a long time and it is 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, so what he needed was a chance.
"What is important is that the player makes a good career and has a good opportunity."
United, like Arsenal languishing well behind leaders Chelsea after a spluttering start, received a fresh blow during the international break when Dutch midfielder Daley Blind sustained a knee ligament injury likely to sideline him for several weeks
But although they face ongoing injury problems in defence, goalkeeper David de Gea and midfielders Michael Carrick and Angel di Maria should all be fit to face Arsenal despite sustaining knocks on international duty.
City, Liverpool seek spark
The season may be only 11 games old, but complacency and rank misfortune already seem the only factors capable of preventing Chelsea from romping to a first league title since 2010.
A 2-1 win at Liverpool enabled Jose Mourinho's side to open up an eight-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City prior to the international window, while Arsenal, United and Liverpool are even further back.
"The win at Anfield was really important because it was a really difficult game and we knew it was important for the future," said Chelsea left-back Filipe Luis during a fan event at Stamford Bridge this week.
Chelsea host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and will hope to see top scorer Diego Costa firing on all cylinders after he was left out of the Spain squad to rest his troublesome hamstrings.
The only team who have threatened to keep pace with Chelsea are Southampton, who trail the leaders by four points ahead of their trip to Aston Villa in the Monday night game.
Champions City will look to drag themselves out of a damaging rut when they host Swansea on Saturday, having won only one of their last six matches in all competitions.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are on the brink of elimination in the Champions League ahead of Tuesday's home game with Bayern Munich, but have at least been able to rely on the form of Sergio Aguero.
The Argentine sharp-shooter scored his 11th and 12th league goals of the season in City's 2-2 draw at Queens Park Rangers a fortnight ago and appears to have overcome the injury problems that bedevilled him last term.
Another team in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes are Liverpool, who lie in 11th place, 15 points behind Chelsea, after three games without a victory.
On Sunday, Brendan Rodgers's side play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, scene of their crushing late-season capitulation last May, when they effectively gifted City the title by letting a 3-0 lead slip to draw 3-3.
Liverpool's woes have been compounded by the news that striker Daniel Sturridge could be out until the new year after aggravating a thigh injury.
AFP
Sat Nov 22 2014
![Football: Wenger expects Welbeck to prove van Gaal wrong Football: Wenger expects Welbeck to prove van Gaal wrong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-11/61416624731_295x200.jpg)
Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck's five goals in 12 appearances have gone some way to silencing the critics. - AFP PHOTO / IAN MACNICOL
![Amaran gempa bumi di Jepun selama seminggu berakhir selepas tiada perkembangan baharu Amaran gempa bumi di Jepun selama seminggu berakhir selepas tiada perkembangan baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723718198_tokyo.jpg)
Amaran gempa bumi di Jepun selama seminggu berakhir selepas tiada perkembangan baharu
Nasihat gempa bumi Palung Nankai mendorong kerajaan pusat dan komuniti tempatan untuk memperhebatkan persiapan bencana sejak minggu lepas.
![Jenazah ibu Menteri Besar Kedah selamat dikebumikan Jenazah ibu Menteri Besar Kedah selamat dikebumikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723717957_IbuMBKedahmenigg.jpg)
Jenazah ibu Menteri Besar Kedah selamat dikebumikan
Jenazah Allahyarham Meriam Ahmad, 74, ibu Menteri Besar Kedah, selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Sungai Pau jam 5.45 petang Khamis.
![Pengarah SRC adalah profesional, bukan boneka yang diupah oleh Najib - Ismee Pengarah SRC adalah profesional, bukan boneka yang diupah oleh Najib - Ismee](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723717419_tbIsmeeIsmail.jpg)
Pengarah SRC adalah profesional, bukan boneka yang diupah oleh Najib - Ismee
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa Ahli Lembaga Pengarah SRC International adalah sekumpulan profesional dan bukannya 'boneka' Najib.
![Mesir tekankan keperluan gencatan senjata segera di Gaza Mesir tekankan keperluan gencatan senjata segera di Gaza](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723717873_BadrAbdelatty.jpg)
Mesir tekankan keperluan gencatan senjata segera di Gaza
Pendekatan itu adalah satu-satunya cara menghentikan peningkatan ketegangan serantau dan membendung percubaan untuk meluaskan konflik.
Berita Terkini Kita: Hero Kita: Kisah wira negara yang tidak didendang
Irfan Faruqi menjelajah Johor membawakan kisah-kisah wira tidak didendang yang memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan negara bersempena bukan kemerdekaan.
Niaga AWANI: Potongan 50 peratus bagi pendaftaran domain .my dan .com.my
MYNIC Berhad, agensi di bawah Kementerian Digital menyemarakkan sambutan Bulan Kebangsaan dengan memberi potongan harga hingga 50 peratus bagi pendaftaran domain .MY dan .COM.MY yang baharu.
Niaga AWANI: K'jaan Persekutuan, Negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur – PM
Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri dan pihak berkuasa tempatan perlu meningkatkan kepantasan dalam memberi kelulusan tanpa berkompromi dengan peraturan yang dikuat kuasa bagi menjadikan Malaysia tumpuan pelabur di rantau ini, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Niaga AWANI: KDNK Jepun meningkat 3.1 peratus tahun ke tahun pada suku kedua
Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) Jepun mencatatkan pertumbuhan 3.1 peratus tahun ke tahun pada suku tahun kedua tahun ini, menurut data awal yang dikeluarkan kerajaan Jepun, lapor Sputnik.
Niaga AWANI: Zus Coffee lancar ciri derma baharu dalam aplikasi
ZUS Coffee menjadi syarikat terbaharu yang menyuarakan sokongannya terhadap Palestin.
![KPDN pelawa Lotus’s, pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan KPDN pelawa Lotus’s, pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719502719_DatukArmizanMohdA.jpg)
KPDN pelawa Lotus’s, pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan
KPDN mempelawa pasar raya besar seperti Lotus's untuk membuka cawangan mereka di Sabah dan Labuan.
![Tugu bekas bos Arsenal Wenger didedahkan di luar Stadium Emirates Tugu bekas bos Arsenal Wenger didedahkan di luar Stadium Emirates](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/81690591652_Arsenal.jpg)
Tugu bekas bos Arsenal Wenger didedahkan di luar Stadium Emirates
Sebagai tanda penghormatan dan kesyukuran berterusan kelab, tugu Arsene yang tersergam indah kini berdiri di luar Stadium Emirates.
![Zlatan Ibrahimovic bersara pada usia 41 tahun Zlatan Ibrahimovic bersara pada usia 41 tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/41685931523_TBZlatanIbrahimovic.jpg)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic bersara pada usia 41 tahun
Masanya telah tiba untuk Ibrahimovic mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada bola sepak.
![Ferguson, Wenger dua pengurus pertama dalam Hall of Fame EPL Ferguson, Wenger dua pengurus pertama dalam Hall of Fame EPL](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/41680139218_AlexFergusonArseneW.jpg)
Ferguson, Wenger dua pengurus pertama dalam Hall of Fame EPL
Dua bekas pengurus yang pernah berseteru itu tersenarai untuk menyertai Hall of Fame EPL, yang mula diperkenalkan pada 2021.
![EPL: Arsenal padu di Emirates EPL: Arsenal padu di Emirates](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41672105434_Arsenal.jpg)
EPL: Arsenal padu di Emirates
Wenger kembali ke Stadium Emirates buat kali pertama sejak meninggalkan kelab itu pada 2018.
![Piala Dunia Qatar: Aksi cemerlang Messi bukti evolusi sukan bola sepak moden - Wenger Piala Dunia Qatar: Aksi cemerlang Messi bukti evolusi sukan bola sepak moden - Wenger](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-12/41670891880_TBMESIFIFA.jpg)
Piala Dunia Qatar: Aksi cemerlang Messi bukti evolusi sukan bola sepak moden - Wenger
Persembahan menakjubkan Lionel Messi di Piala Dunia Qatar 2022 'menunjukkan evolusi sukan bola sepak', menurut bekas pengurus Arsenal, Arsene Wenger.
![Piala Dunia dwitahunan: UEFA percaya FIFA tidak akan teruskan idea Piala Dunia dwitahunan: UEFA percaya FIFA tidak akan teruskan idea](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/41646367452_AleksanderCeferin.jpg)
Piala Dunia dwitahunan: UEFA percaya FIFA tidak akan teruskan idea
Idea ini telah mendapat tentangan meluas oleh ramai pihak dalam bola sepak terutama di Eropah dan Amerika Selatan.
![Arteta jemput Wenger kembali bersama Arsenal Arteta jemput Wenger kembali bersama Arsenal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/71637898454_MikelArteta.jpg)
Arteta jemput Wenger kembali bersama Arsenal
Bekas pengendali kelahiran Perancis itu kini berkhidmat sebagai ketua pembangunan bola sepak global FIFA.
![Wenger sokong cadangan Piala Dunia dianjur setiap dua tahun Wenger sokong cadangan Piala Dunia dianjur setiap dua tahun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/71625532065_TBPialaDunia.jpg)
Wenger sokong cadangan Piala Dunia dianjur setiap dua tahun
Cadangan itu menggembirakan pihak penyiaran tetapi ditentang oleh liga dan kelab kerana bimbang pemain kehabisan tenaga.
![Rashford ingat pesan Mourinho cara menangi sepakan penalti Rashford ingat pesan Mourinho cara menangi sepakan penalti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/51610769907_SoccerFootballFA.jpg)
Rashford ingat pesan Mourinho cara menangi sepakan penalti
United meraih sepakan penalti yang luar biasa dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini berbanding seteru mereka dalam Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL).
![Arsenal hukum kealpaan Liverpool Arsenal hukum kealpaan Liverpool](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-07/71594869281_Arsenal.jpg)
Arsenal hukum kealpaan Liverpool
Arsenal memadam gol pembukaan Sadio Mane dan mula mendahului susulan kelekaan Liverpool yang dihukum oleh Alexandre Lacazette dan Reiss Nelson.