Compare and contrast these two manager quotes about Danny Welbeck from this season . The uncompromising Louis van Gaal , asked in November whether he still thought it was a good idea to sell the in-form Welbeck to Arsenal on deadline day , said : ' I do n't have to prove that [ I was right ] . 'Why do I have to prove that ? I have already said what I think - he was not a line-up player , he was more a substitute than a line-up player . Danny Welbeck trains ahead of his return to Manchester United with Arsenal in the FA Cup sixth round . The England striker has been reduced to a bit-part role in recent weeks , spending time on the bench . Louis van Gaal wrote Welbeck off as not good enough for the Manchester United first team . 'He was already , with different coaches , not a line-up player , but then with Mr Van Gaal , the world is changing ? No the world is not changing . They are the facts . They are not my facts , they are the facts of Danny Welbeck . ' And Arsene Wenger , speaking on the impact of Welbeck just the other day : 'He 's very important and has played many , many games since the start of the season . ' I think he 's played in nearly every single game . His position is one of the three up front , central , left or right . He can play anywhere . ' So Welbeck has apparently gone from a condemned man at Manchester United , destined to rot away on the bench , to a versatile and indispensable part of Arsenal 's team . But , as the England striker returns to Old Trafford for the first time for Monday night 's crunch FA Cup sixth-round tie , has he actually fared that well at the Emirates ? Welbeck celebrates a goal for Manchester United against West Ham under David Moyes last season . Welbeck was given a chance to impress on United 's pre-season tour of the United States . Well , at the time of Van Gaal 's outburst , just ahead of United 's away match with Arsenal on November 22 , he had every reason to be tetchy . While United had endured their worst start to a season in living memory , Welbeck had made light of his £16m transfer fee . Given regular football by Wenger at the head of Arsenal 's attack , he looked revitalised , a player brimming with confidence who looked on course to score 20 goals this season for his new team . Just days after his move , Welbeck scored two for England in their 2-0 European qualifying win in Switzerland , before he opened his Gunners account in a 3-0 win at Aston Villa . The highlight was a hat-trick in Arsenal 's 4-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray , a performance praised by Wenger as 'electric ' . Arsene Wenger was thrilled with Welbeck 's early performances in an Arsenal shirt . Welbeck 's best performance in an Arsenal shirt was a hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League . Welbeck pictured here completing his treble against the Turkish side at the Emirates back in October . MANCHESTER UNITED . 2008-09 . 13 appearances , 3 goals . 2009-2010 . 11 appearances , 2 goals . 2011-12 . 39 appearances , 12 goals . 2012-13 . 40 appearances , 2 goals . 2013-14 . 36 appearances , 10 goals . 2014-15 . 3 appearances , 0 goals . ARSENAL . 2014-15 . 20 appearances , 7 goals . At that point , it was all looking very awkward for Van Gaal . Events since then have made him feel a little better , if not entirely vindicated . Welbeck has scored just three more goals for Arsenal since the Galatasaray match . There have been mitigating circumstances though . Welbeck suffered a thigh injury and missed the whole of January , his absence coinciding with a return to form for Olivier Giroud . By the time Welbeck had rediscovered his fitness , Wenger found it very difficult to take the Frenchman out of the forward position . So Welbeck 's versatility has become something of a curse . When he plays , he is stuck out on the wing , a position he is less effective in . When he left for north London , he said : ' I prefer to play through the middle . Once I get into the box and am getting the chances , I have got faith in my ability . ' And , at this pivotal stage of the season , his game time has dried up as well . Arsenal are prospering without him . Welbeck 's £16m move to Arsenal led to a resurgence in form for England too . Welbeck 's last goal for the Gunners came in the win over West Ham just after Christmas . Welbeck was left on the bench during the win over Leicester and he was brought on for mere cameos in the wins over Everton and Queens Park Rangers . So the 24-year-old returns to Old Trafford with plenty to prove . He believed Arsenal was a club that would advance his career but evidence of this has so far been in short supply . However , earning Champions League qualification and winning the FA Cup for Arsenal - the two things Van Gaal craves so dearly this season - would certainly make him feel better .
Danny Welbeck returns to Old Trafford for FA Cup sixth-round tie . Arsenal Striker left Man United on deadline day in £16m deal . Louis van Gaal said he was not good enough for the United first team . The England forward started his career at the Emirates positively . But he has struggled with form and injury in recent months . Olivier Giroud 's purple patch has left Welbeck stuck out on the wing . CLICK HERE for Man Utd vs Arsenal team news and probable line ups .