adminMANCHESTER. — Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has no regrets about selling Danny Welbeck to Arsenal, he said as the England striker prepares to face his former club tonight.Welbeck (23) has scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for club and country since being allowed to leave Old Trafford for £16 million on transfer deadline day in September.
The Manchester-born forward will come up against his old teammates for the first time when United visit the Emirates Stadium for the stand-out English Premier League clash of the weekend.
Dutchman Van Gaal attributes Welbeck’s success at Arsenal to being a regular in their first team, after he was made to wait for opportunities during his time at United.
“I think that a player who is playing mostly fixed in the team, he develops and always will,” Van Gaal said.
“He takes all the benefit from playing every week. That was a question mark with Manchester United. It’s good to see he’s doing what I thought.”
Van Gaal accepted that Welbeck would enjoy scoring against his old club, much like United’s ex-Arsenal forward Robin van Persie has when he has found the net against the team he left in 2012.
“This is the football world,” Van Gaal said.
“Van Persie has scored already three goals against Arsenal as a United player. That’s life, believe me.”
United will have goalkeeper David de Gea available at the Emirates, despite suffering a dislocated finger while on international duty with Spain.
Angel di Maria and Michael Carrick have also recovered from minor injuries, but left-back Luke Shaw is a doubt after being hurt during England’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland.
Van Gaal last faced Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal in 1999, when he was manager of Barcelona.
The teams drew 1-1 at Camp Nou before the Catalan club won 4-2 at Wembley Stadium — Arsenal’s adopted home in Europe that season — in the Champions League group stage. Van Gaal (63) says he is aware of the rivalry between his current club and Arsenal. — AFP.
Online Reporter