Jermaine Jenas has praised Danny Welbeck for his match-winning performance against Southampton at the weekend.
The England striker set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to find an early equaliser before scoring twice himself to dispatch the Saints with a 3-2 score line.
When asked to comment on his efforts at the Emirates, the ex-Spurs midfielder couldn't help but single out a player who would usually be his rival.
"It was a brilliant move," said Jenas. "The touch from Welbeck was spot on."
He complimented the former Manchester United forward for scoring Arsenal's second and third goals too.
Danny Welbeck is congratulated (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
"It's a good run from Welbeck, and he was sharp. You've got Welbeck at the back post with Cedric. That's a total mismatch.
"Welbeck, he had a fantastic day. He takes responsibility. He wants it more, and he sticks in the back of the net."
The Arsenal manager had his say in his post-match press conference too.
"Danny has been looking sharper," said Wenger. "He has been out for a while, he is coming slowly back to his best. I’m happy and pleased for him because this guy has gone through some difficult times.
"I've seen him behave when he was really hurt and tough. He deserves everything he gets."
Wenger also praised his player's commitment to the cause outside of the final third.
"He saved some great headers on the near post today. Because he had every reason to feel sorry for himself and to think this mountain is too big to climb.
"He had the right knee, the left knee. A year out every time. But he worked hard, unnoticed by everybody, people questioning if he will come back or not.
"It’s the most difficult test for any sportsperson. I believe what he has done has been exceptional."
Welbeck himself hit back at his critics and made a bold comparison between himself and one of the game's greatest-ever players.
“In professional football, there are always going to be critics," he told the Guardian. “You see people are criticising Cristiano Ronaldo and he’s at the pinnacle. Every day in every single walk of life, you can do something good and people will have something bad to say about you. You just get on with it and do your job as best you can.
“In your mindset you just have to know there’s going to be another opportunity and you have to keep focused. I’ve been through much tougher stuff than that. So it’s nothing. You just have to keep your mindset strong.”
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