Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping Danny Welbeck will sign a new deal at the club after a ‘torrid time’ with injuries has seen him lose confidence.
The long-serving Frenchman has been speaking ahead of the Gunners hosting Ostersund in the Europa League at the Emirates on Thursday evening and wants the former Manchester United forward to commit his future to Arsenal after ‘traumatic’ injuries to his knee lost him a year and a half of his career.
The Arsenal manager also believes the Longsight-born striker should take his cue from Jack Wilshere in battling back from long-term injury.
Wenger, who confirmed Welbeck will start against the Swedes as the home side hold a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Scandinavia last week, said: “I like him because he can play left, right or up front, and for his quality.
“He is a useful player and useful is a positive. He might not be a goalscorer like Harry Kane but for England he can perfectly play with [Harry] Kane because he can play on the flanks. I want to keep him because he has gone through a torrid time and come out well.”
However Wenger also feels the injuries have robbed Welbeck, 27, of his youthful exuberance and confidence.
He added: “One of the advantages of being young is that you feel ‘undestroyable’. It gives you an arrogance.
“But as soon as your arrogance is hit, you are lost. Sometimes the players are very confident, very arrogant, but as soon as they lose that belief in their body, suddenly they are lost and you don’t know any more what is going on.”
The Swedish side, led by Englishman Graham Potter, need to win by an improbable four goals to progress but Calum Chambers is confident that scoreline is simply not an option.
Looking forward to the game the former Southampton defender said: “We did a professional job in the first leg and we’re looking to finish the job.
“These competitions can help us with game time. The Europa League is a big competition and I want to do my best.”
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