Wenger: Welbeck winner well deserved

The Frenchman was delighted after the former Manchester United striker netted against his former club to send the Gunners into the last four of the FA Cup

Arsene Wenger says Danny Welbeck was a worthy matchwinner in Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final win at Manchester United on Monday.

Welbeck was a surprise selection to lead the Gunners attack given Olivier Giroud's fine form of late, but the England international justified his inclusion by scoring the game's decisive goal just after the hour mark.

Wenger believes that it was a hugely significant strike not only for the former United striker, who only left Old Trafford for the Emirates last summer, but also the entire squad, ahead of next week's crucial Champions League last-16, second-leg trip to Monaco.

“Danny worked extremely hard today and he was rewarded with a good goal," the Gunners boss told BBC Sport.

“We want to compete in every competition and I believe the result today can give us some good morale for the cup, the Premier League, a very important Champions League game away from home.

“I think the most important thing is when your team performs at a good level and that is what we did.

“[The key was] to start without apprehension because we have been caught a few times here,” he added.

“To be on the front foot, closing down, play at a high pace and I felt we did that well.

The Arsenal boss was also cautiously optimistic of defending the FA Cup won last year after being drawn against Bradford or Reading.

“Last year we played a tricky game at Wembley in the semi-final. We expect that again,” he said.

“We have played Bradford before we know about that. But let’s enjoy tonight.

“I feel we played a good game tonight, on the front foot from the start and that we deserved to win the game.”