Welbeck: England are Gunner benefit

New striker Danny Welbeck is confident Arsenal’s England core can boost chances of a successful Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

Welbeck joined the Gunners in a £16m deadline day switch from Manchester United.

The 23-year-old came off the bench to replace goalscorer Wayne Rooney in the second half of Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Norway at Wembley, with England set to take on Switzerland next week in their first competitive match since the World Cup.

Arsenal midfielders Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were named in the starting XI, while defender Calum Chambers, signed from Southampton in the summer, came off the bench.

Forward Theo Walcott is set to be involved again once he recovers from the knee injury which ruled him out of World Cup contention, and full-back Kieran Gibbs is another Gunner on the periphery of Roy Hodgson’s squad.

Welbeck believes having so many team-mates together within the international set-up can only have a knock-on effect.

“It is going to be a massive positive for us,” Welbeck said on Arsenal Player.

“We will be seeing each other every single day and you obviously develop a much better understanding if you are working with one another on a consistent basis, that is something that will definitely benefit the England team.”

Welbeck, who had been at United since the age of eight, found himself pushed further down the pecking order at Old Trafford following the arrival of Colombia forward Radamel Falcao.

The Manchester-born forward, who scored 29 goals in 142 appearances for the Red Devils, could be set for an extended run in the Arsenal team as a central striker following Olivier Giroud’s foot injury, which is expected to sideline the France international until January.

Welbeck, though, is taking nothing for granted.

“There is definitely competition and I think once you come to a big club, there is always going to be competition,” he said.

“Unfortunately there are a couple of injuries at the moment but I think once everyone is fighting fit, everybody will want to be on the pitch scoring goals and that’s healthy competition for the squad.”

Welbeck cannot wait to get started at his new club, with Arsenal hosting Manchester City after the international break on September 13.

“I just want them (Arsenal fans) to know that I will give 100 per cent in every single game. I play with my heart on my sleeve and I am always going to give my best,” he said.

“I will try to give them so many happy days in the coming future.”

It had been suggested Arsenal were ready to off-load Germany forward Lukas Podolski before the injury to Giroud.

However, Podolski maintains he has the complete support of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Speaking to German publication BILD, Podolski said: “A move away from Arsenal did not fall through because I had no offers to move.

“I had a very good conversation with the manager. He has stressed he is putting trust in me and my qualities. I do not have to fear anyone at Arsenal.

“I am just back in training for two and a half weeks. If I am at 100 per cent fitness, I do not fear any competition for places in the first XI.”