Danny Welbeck’s much needed star turn shows why he remains important to both Arsenal and England

Too much of the time in his career, Danny Welbeck has faded into the background, unable because of injuries to make the most of his obvious talents. Four years on from leaving Manchester United for Arsenal, he has still not quite made his presence felt here, or for the England team, as one injured season turns into another.

Well here was a different occasion: a day in which Welbeck returned to the England squad and then scored twice for Arsenal. That might not sound like much but these were only his 23rd and 24th goals for the club, and just his sixth and seventh of this season. But in these goals, and in this 90 minute performance, he did enough to show why he is still an important part of the thinking here at Arsenal and with England too. And why, if he can just stay fit and keep scoring for the rest of the season, he could yet go to the World Cup.

It is no secret why Welbeck has been so attractive to managers over the years. His mixture of speed and power but also technical skill, awareness and imagination makes him more dangerous than almost any of his counterparts. His problem, obviously enough, has been staying fit and scoring goals. That is why he has fallen out of the picture with England and is now third-choice number 9 at Arsenal behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who cost more than £100million between them and will surely be here for some time to come.

Welbeck once looked like the future of England’s front line but has fallen behind the rapid rise of Harry Kane in the last four seasons. Roy Hodgson had a big role for him marked out at Euro 2016 before he injured knee ligaments just before the tournament. Gareth Southgate likes him too but he did not feature in the October or November internationals.

But on Thursday, with Kane missing the next month with twisted ankle ligaments, Welbeck got the call again. Southgate wanted someone who could match Kane’s athletic profile, to hold up the ball and run in behind, so he went for the newly-fit again Arsenal man. While Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford provide something slightly different, Welbeck will have a chance to lead the line against Holland or Italy, and if he does well then shouldn’t he be on the plane to Russia in June. England are not exactly inundated with options.

Then here at the Emirates, Welbeck got his chance again, with another Europa League start, but this time plenty to show for it against a strong opponent. Yes, the moment that Welbeck may be remembered for is that clumsy, ungainly tumble, in the vicinity of Ricardo Rodriguez, that earned Arsenal the first half equaliser to give them back their two-goal lead. There was no contact, it was never a penalty, and the kindest thing that can be said about it is that Welbeck just lost his footing.

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But Welbeck did at least convert the penalty, bagging his first goal since 7 January, and that was in a humiliating 4-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Beyond that, though, he was excellent. Welbeck’s lively running down the inside left channel produced Arsenal’s best early chance and after scoring the goal he continued to be a threat. His clever cross from the right was nearly headed in by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

In the second half, when the pace of the game slowed, Welbeck was still a presence. He nearly turned in the rebound when Granit Xhaka scored – the ball span into the net anyway – but then with four minutes left he added another. Starting the move with his hold-up play, Welbeck played pass out to Jack Wilshere on the left, who crossed, and after the save Welbeck was there to tap in the rebound. His second goal of an impressive evening and a reminder that with all this in his locker, he can still be a serious, dangerous player, who may come back into form at just the right time.