Arsenal 4-1 Galatasaray: Gunners delight as Danny Welbeck plunders hat-trick

England: More than a month of false starts and frustrations, doubts and worries, the England striker ran riot as Arsene Wenger's side made light work of their visitors on Wednesday evening.

But on the night Danny Welbeck produced all the evidence to show he can be a natural goalscorer, Arsenal's season might just have started for real.

For Arsene Wenger, celebrating a 18 years at the helm, this was the performance he has been looking for, despite Wojciech Szczesny's red card madness.

From Mesut Ozil, with two delicious assists. From Alexis Sanchez too. He is looking increasing at home. But above all from the £16millon man signed from Old Trafford on deadline day, the striker who always insisted he would rise to the challenge if he was given the chance he craved.

Of necessity, with Olivier Giroud injured, Yaya Sanogo not good enough, and no other options, Welbeck has become Arsenal's line leader. And as he took Galatasaray to the cleaners, claiming the first senior hat-trick of his career, demonstrating real quality and a deadly touch in front of goal, the England man showed he is ready to make the next step up.

This was exactly what Wenger needed from the former Manchester United man, whose pace panicked Cesare Prandelli's woeful defensive unit from the start.

Banishing the worries induced by that opening Champions League defeat in Dortmund, putting Galatasaray in their place and bringing a welcome feel-good factor ahead of Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge.

Perhaps there was an element of fortune about his opener, the goal that settled Arsenal's nerves after a sluggish start, much in keeping with their entire campaign to this point.

But the move, beginning with Kieran Gibbs surging up the left, continued by Sanchez, who deftly played between Felipe Melo and Semih Kaya. It looked as if Welbeck had let the ball run too far but, as Fernando Muslera came out, legs spread and planted, he instinctively prodded the ball between them.

And swiftly, galvanised and energised by his goal, Welbeck had a second, one even more reminiscent of the man immortalised in stone outside The Emirates, Thierry Henry.

A misdirected header by Kaya allowed Welbeck to latch onto the chance to run at and past Melo, scared to make a challenge, unable to cope. How many times did we see defenders quake in the face of Henry?

This time, as with his second for England in Basel at the start of the month, Welbeck's finish was pure quality, picking his spot and finding it.

Suddenly, the Gunners were swarming all over Turkish side, the only impression on the evening coming from the fans who briefly interrupted play with a fusillade of flares.

Melo should have been sent off for a disgraceful two-footer on Sanchez, even having the temerity to lambast the referee when he only saw yellow. Fortunately, Sanchez was not injured and before the break the Chilean had his fifth of the season, Arsenal their third of the night.

Another quality goal too, initiated by Per Mertesacker, continued by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ozil, whose terrific pass allowed Sanchez, from pretty much the same position as Welbeck scored his second, to replicate the finish low into the bottom corner.

Three up and cruising, Prandelli's switch to a back four at the break one which brought to mind stable doors and bolted horses. Not that it made too much difference as Welbeck completed his treble, with a goal of the highest quality.

Welbeck was at the genesis, pulling wide to receive, surging inside to find Santi Cazorla, and carried on his run into the danger area. That belief and conviction was rewarded as Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped through, the deftness and dexterity of the first-time finish gloriously eye-catching. Terrific.

Game well and truly over, only for Szczesny's hare-brained dash off his line to send Burak Yilmaz somersaulting into the air. Penalty. Red card.

The standing ovation was misplaced as the Pole's stupidity will mean he is missing at Anderlecht at the end of the month.

David Ospina was powerless to prevent Yilmaz scoring from the spot but the Colombian's subsequent performance did not exactly answer the questions raised by his Capital One Cup debut against Southampton last week.

Ospina made a show-boating stop from Yilmaz, another with his feet to foil Alex Telles but hardly convinced.

Not that it mattered on the night. Neither did the last-gasp goalline clearance that denied Cazorla a fifth.

But Arsenal will head across the capital on Sunday in a very different mood. Welbeck, in particular, cannot wait for his next game.

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