Welbeck's signing a payback for Persie: Wenger

Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger feels buying Danny Welbeck from Manchester United is their payback for signing the Gunners’ former star striker Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2012 and played a major role in helping Alex Ferguson win his 20th league title that year and bagged the Premier League’s Golden Boot award.

After obtaining the services of Radamel Falcao from Monaco on loan this summer, the Old Trafford outfit sold Welbeck to the Emirates Stadium club for £16m on a five year contract on the deadline day.

And the Frenchman believes the English international will prove to be a perfect signing for the North London club being a versatile attacker up front and an ideal team man. He also insists that bringing in 23-year-old is their payback for losing Persie to Unites two years ago.

“Danny Welbeck is an ideal signing because he can play through the middle, which I think is his best position, but also on the wings”, the boss was quoted as saying by Voetbal Primeur.

“He believes in the team’s interest, which is very important to us.

“He can create goals with his speed through the middle”, the 64-year-old continued.

“We sold Robin van Persie to Manchester United, it is a payback that happened.”

Welbeck will be hoping to make his Arsenal debut when they host the reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday.