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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain welcomes Danny Welbeck to Arsenal with 'Welbz is dat guy' motto as squad relax during team photo

Welbeck joined his new team-mates for the annual photoshoot as the Gunners got up to no good ahead of their clash against Manchester City

Jack de Menezes
Friday 12 September 2014 10:40 BST
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Jack Wilshere laughs with new Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck
Jack Wilshere laughs with new Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has wasted no time in welcoming Danny Welbeck to the Arsenal squad after joking at his nickname during the Gunners’ annual photoshoot on Thursday.

With £16m signing Welbeck joining up with the squad for the first time, the cameras were firmly on the former Manchester United striker as he got familiar with his new surroundings at their London Colney training base.

But Oxlade-Chamberlain was quick to introduce the “Welbz is dat guy” motto that was originally conjured up by West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison during their time together at United.

The day represented a chance for the Gunners to relax ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City on Saturday, and the majority of the squad appeared in good spirits as they joined manager Arsene Wenger for the team photo.

Watch the video below:

To start with, Mesut Özil received a hit-and-run attack from Serge Gnabry as the German gave his compatriot a cheeky slap around the back of the head, although Jack Wilshere would later suffer the same ‘brutal’ attack from Francis Coquelin on three occasions.

Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla were all in good spirits

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Oxlade-Chamberlain bemoaned his lack of height forcing him out wide – you’d think he’d be used to such a position – but at least he had Santi Cazorla for company as the 5 ft 6 in midfielder was shunted out to the end of the front row for being the shortest member of the squad.

Even though he was linked with a move away from the club in the summer, Lukas Podolski was given a prominent position alongside newly-appointed captain Mikel Arteta, which gave Wilshere something to moan about as he was bumped outside Per Mertesacker, Tomas Rosicky and Özil.

The squad photo was eventually taken once everyone had settled down

Ever keen for a bit of fun, the outspoken goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny nearly landed himself in hot water as he aimed a shot at the Arsenal cameraman, but the squad were certainly much better behaved once the Arsenal Ladies squad arrived and joined them for a club photo.

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