DANNY Welbeck was the shock name on the lips of the Arsenal fans crowded outside the Emirates Stadium on transfer deadline night. The 23-year-old England forward completed a last-gasp £16m move from Manchester United despite the last paperwork being filed after the 11 pm cut-off.

 

With manager Arsene Wenger away in Rome to referee the ‘Match for Peace’ organised by Pope Francis, there was little hope of attacking reinforcement in the wake of Olivier Giroud’s four-month injury lay-off. But United’s £20m loan signing of AS Monaco striker Radamel Falcao yesterday evening meant Welbeck was surplus to requirements, and a move south was suddenly on the cards.

 

United had been reluctant to let Welbeck join rivals Arsenal, but the player favoured a permanent move to the Gunners over the loan offered by Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal finally confirmed the signing just after midnight.

 

Fan reaction has been mixed, with some supporters expressing their fury at Arsenal’s failure to sign a bigger name. There was no replacement signed for centre-half Thomas Vermaelen, who left the club for Barcelona on August 9, nor the ball-winning midfielder demanded by fans. A rumoured last-ditch move for Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho never materialised.

 

But Welbeck’s signing was gladly received by his new team-mates. Club captain Mikel Arteta tweeted: ‘Very happy yo welcome #DannyWelbeck to @Arsenal!He will fit very well in our style.’ Playmaker Mesut Özil added: ‘I’m glad to welcome you, Danny! wish you as much goals as possible!’

 

Welbeck, who represented England at the last World Cup, signed a five-year contract worth a reported £115,000 a week and will wear the no 23 shirt. Earlier in the day, 21-year-old defender Ignasi Miquel had left the club for Norwich City for an undisclosed fee. Japan winger Ryo Miyaichi was also a departure, joining FC Twente for the rest of the season.