Arsenal legend Martin Keown reportedly admired the way Danny Welbeck pushed the Chelsea defence during the Gunners’ FA Cup triumph over their London rivals last month.

The England international has endured a series of injuries in the last 24 months, and this has reduced his playing time.

Prior to the Cup clash, Welbeck had been recovering from a foot inflammation, but he never managed to put up a commanding display upfront as he ran the Blues backline raged for most of the game.

Eventually, it was left to super sub Olivier Giroud to provide the match winning assist, but Keown felt that Welbeck’s showing reminded him of Gunners’ all-time goal scorer Thierry Henry, he told The Mail: “I said to Danny Welbeck afterwards that at times he reminded me of Thierry Henry. He was too quick for Chelsea and kept stretching David Luiz into those channels.Welbeck gave Arsenal extra energy in both directions.”

Welbeck has had a stop-start career with the Gunners since his switch from Old Trafford three years ago, but he has firmly established himself as a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium. Welbeck played particularly well during the Euro 2016 qualifiers for England, but he may have to put a real shift in next season in order to regain his position under Gareth Southgate. Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy are among the top contenders for a starting role under the former Boro coach and player, but there is additional competition from the ageless Jermaine Defoe.

The former United graduate will have to push for a place in the Gunners lineup next term with Olivier Giroud having put up a couple of stunning displays on international duty in order to stamp his authority for the centre-forward role. Both Welbeck and Giroud have looked capable in the Gunners frontline, but the latter holds the edge in form of contributing goals and assists for his team.