LONDON (AP) – Danny Welbeck scored his first career hat trick as Arsenal overpowered Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League today and survived with ten men for the last half-hour after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off.
Welbeck, who was allowed to leave Manchester United last month after his striking qualities were questioned by manager Louis Van Gaal, demonstrated just how he can thrive as a centre forward.
“He had the instinct of a goal-scorer. He was aggressive and made great runs,” Arsene Wenger said of Wellbeck, speaking on his 18th anniversary as Arsenal manager. “He has just good pace (and) it allows him to finish calmly.”
Against a weak defence, Welbeck side-footed in the opener in the 22nd minute, swept in a second on the half-hour and, after Alexis Sanchez also netted, completed his hat trick at the start of the second half.
Wenger “has shown a lot of faith in me and I am delighted to repay him tonight”, Welbeck said. “He has allowed me to play up front in my preferred position.”
Arsenal were cruising in the Group D encounter until Szczesny rushed off his line and brought down Burak Yilmaz, who then converted the resulting penalty.
Arsenal’s latest moment of ill-discipline – this was the London club’s fifth red card in seven European matches – enabled Galatasaray to provide a late threat.
Champions League results
Group A
Atletico Madrid (Arda Turan) 1, Juventus 0
Malmo (Markus Rosenberg 2) 2, Olympiakos 0
Group B
FC Basel (Marco Streller) 1, Liverpool 0
Ludogorets (Marcelinho) 1, Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema) 2
Group C
Bayer Leverkusen (Stefan Kiessling, Son Heung-min, Hakan Calhanoglu) 3, Benfica (Eduardo Salvio) 1
Zenit St Petersburg 0, Monaco 0
Group D
Anderlecht 0, Borussia Dortmund (Ciro Immobile, Adrian Ramos 2) 3
Arsenal (Danny Welbeck 3, Alexis Sanchez) 4, Galatasaray (Burak Yilmaz) 1
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