Friday 13 April 2018 10:26, UK
Arsene Wenger has praised Danny Welbeck and believes he is a player who can turn more matches in Arsenal's favour after his goal against CSKA Moscow.
The Gunners found themselves 2-0 down to CSKA on the night in their Europa League quarter-final second leg on Thursday, with the Russians needing just one goal to win the tie, but Welbeck halted the comeback with a well-taken goal on 75 minutes to help send Arsenal through 6-3 on aggregate.
The Englishman has now scored five goals in his last five Arsenal appearances in all competitions, and Wenger believes the 27-year-old has a rare quality.
He said: "I would say, above all, the qualities of Danny Welbeck... when your back's against the wall, he looks like he has that extra special motivation in his body and in his head, that can give you something special.
"That's something really exceptional and that you do not find in many players."
It was a much nervier night than the Gunners would have anticipated, and Wenger put that down to the margin of victory from the first leg.
The Frenchman said: "You could see when you have a big difference after the first game, it is difficult to turn up with the same urgency than if the difference is very small and that played a part in the first half.
"I felt in the two games they played well, especially tonight they made my heart beat much quicker than I expected it to be.
"We played against a good team. I knew that after the first game and they showed that again tonight, they gave us many problems."
Wenger would not be drawn on his preferred semi-final opponent, with Atletico Madrid, Marseille, and Salzburg lurking in Friday's semi-final draw.
"Looking at all the results as a whole picture in Europe this week, you would say that teams have become closer and the games are very open and everything is possible in every single game," he added.
"Everybody speaks about Atletico Madrid that they look the strongest team on paper but you must say when you look at the results that Salzburg have done again.
"I am from France and Marseille are in there as well and that is always a difficult place to go. Maybe it is better that I don't wish for anybody."
