LONDON (AP) - Danny Welbeck has finally scored more than once in an English Premier League match for Arsenal. It’s taken three years.
Manager Arsene Wenger hopes the double on Saturday in a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth will help the striker become more relaxed when presented with scoring opportunities.
Welbeck also set up Alexandre Lacazette’s goal as anxieties around Arsenal were eased after back-to-back losses before the two-week break for World Cup qualifiers.
“Let’s not forget that he was out for a long time,” Wenger said of Welbeck. “He gets stronger and stronger. He’s a team player, Danny Welbeck, and that’s why coaches love him.”
The only previous occasions the former Manchester United forward has scored more than a solitary goal in an Arsenal shirt were in the Champions League - with an October 2014 hat trick against Galatasaray - and an FA Cup double against Southampton in January.
“He’s a guy who has a huge physical potential,” Wenger said. “People are not convinced that he is a great finisher, but these kinds of goals will help him become more relaxed in front of goal.”
Welbeck headed Arsenal in front after six minutes after meeting Sead Kolasinac’s cross at Emirates Stadium.
Lacazette, who was restored to the lineup after starting the 4-0 loss at Liverpool on the bench, scored the second goal of his Arsenal career in the 27th minute after being teed up by Welbeck.
Welbeck hit the target again five minutes into the second half after being fed by Aaron Ramsey.
“I liked his second goal today because it was the clean finish of a goal-scorer,” Wenger said.
While there were cheers for Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez faced jeers from some of his own fans after the Chile forward’s failed bid to join Manchester City in the summer transfer window that closed on Aug. 31.
Sanchez came on with Olivier Giroud in a double substitution with around 15 minutes to go that saw Lacazette and Danny Welbeck brought off.
“The best way to get people on your side is to perform,” Wenger said. “I had a chat with him after the game and he didn’t look unhappy. Maybe it’s because he wanted to score. The interpretation of the attitudes is always very dangerous.”
While Arsenal recovered from losses to Stoke and Liverpool, the hosts were rarely troubled by an ineffective Bournemouth side that has opened the season with four successive losses.
“It was a poor performance from start to finish,” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said.
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