Match Report: Ruthless Welbeck Leads Arsenal to Dominant Win over Galatasaray

Cesare Prandelli's misguided attempts at the Emirates to recreate the dominance of his Italy side over England at Euro 2012 ended in disaster as Arsenal wrapped up a comfortable victory over Galatasaray to get their Champions League campaign up and running. 

But for the efforts, once again, of the ever-unpredictable Wojciech Szczesny to derail his team's progress - sent off for a badly timed lunge on Burak Yilmaz with his side four goals to the good - the Gunners held on to not only pick up three important points but also build vast confidence ahead of a tough trip to league-leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

Arsenal's injury problems were much publicised ahead of kick off, and the prospect of facing a central midfield consisting of Mathieu Flamini, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Özil certainly would have had Prandelli believe his team were in with a chance of taking something from the game. With Felipe Melo in the Daniele De Rossi role, bringing the ball out of defence from between two other central defenders, and Wesley Sneijder deployed as his 'Pirlo', he hoped to overrun his opponents in central areas. To say it failed catastrophically would be an understatement.

His wing-backs essentially played as wingers, providing no cover for the centre-backs in the channels, and Danny Welbeck gratefully profited. Arsenal's midfield utilised the pace they have become accustomed to doing without up front in recent years, with Welbeck racing through and swiftly putting Arsenal into a 2-goal lead with the first 2 shots on target of the game.

Prandelli had tried to implement a tactic that had overwhelmed England two years ago but with personnel vastly more limited than those he had had at his disposal in Kiev. He chose not to change anything with the match running away from his side and was made to pay four minutes before half time when Alexis Sanchez ran on to Özil's through ball to make it three. Each goal was remarkably similar with a forward going through on goal down the left channel to convert in the way Thierry Henry used to way back in Arsene Wenger's 18-year spell at the club. 48% of Arsenal's attacks came down their left flank and the manager's summer business looks to be paying off.

After Welbeck went through from an inside right position to complete his hat-trick in the 52nd minute with a deliciously delicate dink over the onrushing Fernando Muslera, he had scored 4 goals from just 6 shots on target in his 5 Arsenal appearances. The main criticism prior to his move to the Emirates had been that he could not finish, but that was far from the case here. Welbeck showed a ruthless streak that Arsenal have often been lacking recently. 

Wenger said after the game of his striker: "It helps to know you have [the] confidence [of your manager], and you will have a run in the team, but he is a team player. He is not only a finisher; he wants to help the team". Here, he did so much more than merely help his team. As undisputed man of the match with a perfect 10 rating, he hinted at becoming the number 9 Arsenal have been crying out for.

How successful do you think Welbeck can be at Arsenal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below