Danny Welbeck joins Arsenal: Wayne Rooney tips Welbeck to succeed at Gunners in the hope England reap the benefits

Welbeck left his boyhood club Manchester United in a transfer deadline day move to Arsenal

Wayne Rooney shakes hands with Danny Welbeck as he is replaced during England's 1-0 win over Norway (Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney backed former Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck to succeed at Arsenal, and for England to reap the benefit. Welbeck, who had been at Old Trafford since he was a young boy, switched clubs at the end of the transfer window and is in line to make his Arsenal debut at home to Manchester City on Saturday.

“Danny is a lively player, an impact player,” said Rooney. “He is quick, he can score goals. Hopefully he can play up front for Arsenal, that will really help him with England.

“It's a big moment for him. He is a Manchester lad and I spoke to him a few times. It was a really tough decision for him to move, but for his professional career he felt he had to.”

Should Welbeck flourish in front of goal at Arsenal Rooney’s own England place could be in doubt. Indeed, England looked more fluent against Norway in the later stages with Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge in tandem up front and Raheem Sterling operating in behind. Rooney had been substituted.

It should be borne in mind Norway were, by then, chasing the game, and also more fatigued. Nevertheless, Paul Scholes, in his Independent column on Friday, suggested the immediate solution was to play Rooney in midfield where his passing ability could be decisive.

Rooney, professed to be unconcerned, following the line expected of a captain that it was the team that mattered. “It is whoever the manager decides to pick,” he said. “They are all top-quality players whether it's me and Daniel Sturridge or me and Danny Welbeck, or Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck, it is the manager's decision. We are all capable of playing and doing well for England. Whoever he chooses, we are ready to step in and give our all for the team.”