Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claims Daniel Welbeck is a 'different animal' after injury woes

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned that Daniel Welbeck is a "different animal" after recently suffering from fatigue. The 25-year-old forward returned from a nine-month injury lay-off in February and Wenger admits Welbeck only recently rediscovered his energy following a spell on the bench.

Welbeck initially appeared to be have found top form upon his return to the team, but Wenger since admitted that the forward had struggled to sustain his fitness levels. But after starting some of Arsenal's recent fixtures on the bench, Wenger thinks the England international is now back to his best.

"Welbeck came in and played very well [on his comeback from injury], like the players who have been out for nine months always do," Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "You have to trust me on that, I know that well.

"After they come in they are super sharp and then after, against Crystal Palace, he had a very average game and looked a bit for one or two games like he had paid for the physical energy he had given."

Welbeck scored Arsenal's only goal in their all-important 1-0 win against Norwich City on Saturday (30 April) and Wenger subsequently insisted the striker has benefited from a period of rest. "You let them rest one or two games and you bring them back in. [Against Norwich], when he came on, you could see he is a different animal again," the Arsenal manager explained.

Victory against Norwich - allied to a draw for Manchester United and a loss for Manchester City - has strengthened Arsenal's prospects of qualifying for next season's Champions League. The Gunners are currently third in the Premier League table, three points above fourth-placed City.