LONDON // Arsene Wenger insists Danny Welbeck’s hat-trick against Galatasaray will give the Arsenal striker the confidence he needs to thrive at the Emirates Stadium.
Welbeck had made a tentative start to life with the Gunners following his £16 million ($25 million) move from Manchester United on transfer deadline day last month.
Read more: Welbeck wows with finishing as Arsenal outpace woeful Galatasaray
The 23-year-old departed Old Trafford with criticism from United manager Louis van Gaal ringing in his ears.
Van Gaal claimed Welbeck wouldn’t make it at the highest level, a damning comment which earned widespread agreement from critics who said he would never be a natural goalscorer.
Welbeck had hardly silenced the naysayers after scoring just once in his first four appearances for Arsenal, with several good chances squandered in the process.
But he picked the perfect moment to hit form as the first treble of his career inspired a crucial 4-1 victory over Turkish side at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Each finish was more confident than the last and Wenger believes Welbeck’s predatory display will make him believe he can shine in an Arsenal shirt after being used either out of position or as a substitute for much of his time at United.
“Of course it’s good to see that slowly he gains confidence and finishes well. It’s nice to see the potential is there and hopefully the hat-trick will help him gain confidence,” Wenger said.
“It helps always to know you are given the chance to play in the next game.
“What is good for me as well is his link play is good. His work rate is good and his attitude is positive. He is a team player not just a finisher. He wants to help the team.
“He’s a good finisher, technically he is very sound. He is a good passer of the ball. I knew he was quick but I didn’t know he was that quick. He is so fast, he can be electric.”
Welbeck was delighted to live up to Wenger’s billing and he said: “He’s shown a lot of faith in me and I’m delighted to pay him back tonight.
“Just giving me the chance to play up front in my preferred position, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that he’s happy.”
After winning only one of their previous six matches in all competitions -- a frustrating run that included a 2-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in their opening Champions League Group D fixture -- this was a much-needed morale boost for the rest of Wenger’s team, who marked the 18th anniversary of their manager’s appointment with their most swaggering display of the season.
“We had a good start. They were surprised by our pace,” Wenger said.
“We had good transition from defence to attack and Welbeck got on the end of some good movements.”
Wenger knows much tougher tests await -- starting with a trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday -- but for now he preferred to bask in the afterglow of a victory that was the perfect way to celebrate his anniversary.
“Let’s not talk about Chelsea tonight,” he said.
“If you were here when I started my career that means you are at least 18 years a journalist. That’s not bad either!”
Meanwhile, Galatasaray boss Cesare Prandelli had to endure critical questions about tactics after a dismal defensive display.
Former Italy coach Prandelli deployed Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo in central defence and he was brutally exposed by Welbeck.
“It is all my responsibility,” Prandelli said. “It wasn’t a great performance. Unfortunately the defenders played a bit wider than I expected and Melo had to play one against one.
“We will find a system the players believe in. Sometimes the messages I give might not go through to the team, but I believe we have very good players and we should be able to show our qualities.”
Follow our sports coverage on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
ACC%20T20%20Women%E2%80%99s%20Championship
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2017%20v%20Oman%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2018%20v%20Singapore%3Cbr%3EMonday%2C%20June%2020%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2022%20v%20Qatar%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2024%2C%20semi-final%3Cbr%3ESaturday%2C%20June%2025%2C%20final%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Rithika%20Rajith%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Sanchin%20Singh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
