Move ‘right’ for Welbeck

Wayne Rooney thinks Danny Welbeck did the right thing by leaving Manchester United for Arsenal this summer.

Many United fans were shocked earlier this year when Louis van Gaal sanctioned Welbeck’s £16 million €20m) transfer to the north London club.

Welbeck is a lifelong United fan and joined the club as an eight-year-old having grown up just four miles away from Old Trafford.

During his 11-year spell at United, Rooney watched the pacy forward progress from teenage prodigy to first-team striker and admits it will be strange to play against the 23-year-old striker when the Red Devils travel to the Emirates Stadium today.

“Of course, Danny has been here all of his life,” Rooney said. “He is a Manchester lad so it is weird seeing him [there].

“But that’s football nowadays and players move on.”

Welbeck scored 29 times in 142 United appearances, but since his move he has found the net on 10 occasions for club and country.

Rooney thinks leaving United has been beneficial for his former team-mate.

“I think, for Danny, and for his own personal career, it was probably the best move for him,” Rooney said.

“He’s done great and scored a few goals and is playing well. Danny gives you what he always gives you — a good shift. He works hard for the team.

“At times, as I said to him, he works a bit too hard but he’s scoring goals and he’s doing well.”