Arsenal Captain Mikel Arteta: I Rate Danny Welbeck More Now Than At Manchester United

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta says he rates Danny Welbeck far more now than when the English international striker played for Manchester United.

Welbeck completed his move to the Emirates Stadium on deadline day in the summer for £16 million after United boss Louis van Gaal said he was not good enough to compete with Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney for an attacking place in his Old Trafford line-up.

Even though the striker scored 29 goals in 129 appearances in his Manchester United career, he recently claimed he was frustrated at Old Trafford because he played on the flank rather than in his preferred central striking role.

Welbeck has made the most of Olivier Giroud's injury to secure the number nine role at Arsenal in the first part of the season, with five goals in 12 appearances – including a Champions League hat trick against Galatasaray.

Arteta has hailed his summer arrival claiming that even though he never rated him very highly he is proving to be the perfect fit for Arsene Wenger's side.

"I rate him more now than I used to and this is a good sign because normally the opposite is true when you watch a player on a daily basis. I'm glad he is with us," Arteta said, according to the Arsenal official website.

"He has everything here to become one of the best strikers in the Premier League."

After scoring a brace for England during the Euro 2016 qualifier 3-1 victory against Slovenia the striker picked up an injury in the friendly win over Scotland on Tuesday night.

However, Arteta hopes the striker will be ready to face his former side who visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

"I think Danny is the perfect fit for us, [with] the kind of character he is and the kind of player he is," he said. "Personally I have been surprised by his technical capacity, the way he understands the game, his work rate.