Arsenal didn't want me anymore – now I'm one of the Premier League's top scorers

His career looked to be petering out during his time at the Emirates Stadium, but this former Arsenal star has reinvented himself to great effect

Arsenal host Brighton on Saturday afternoon in another must-win game for the Premier League title hopefuls.

The Seagulls have already visited the Emirates Stadium this season, suffering a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup back in October. Brighton's in-form striker Danny Welbeck was involved in that match, coming off the bench to a warm reception from fans of his former club.

The 35-year-old will be hoping for a more successful outing for his side in N5 this time around, though overcoming Mikel Arteta's Gunners is no easy task. Of course, Welbeck and Arteta were once team-mates. But the Englishman is currently enjoying the best form of his career, having netted seven goals in 16 Premier League appearances this season, albeit currently dealing with a back injury.

He has managed 0.64 goals per 90 minutes with a goal conversion rate of 28%, making him the joint fifth top scorer in the top flight this season. Last season saw Welbeck net 10 times in 30 league games, with his latest purple patch sparking talk of a potential call-up to Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Most of Welbeck's caps for England came during his early career at Manchester United. The then-youngster fulfilled a childhood dream when Sir Alex Ferguson promoted him to the first-team squad in the late noughties.

His breakthrough came in the 2011/12 season when he scored 12 goals, which remains his best season tally to date. Welbeck picked up several major trophies during his spell at Old Trafford, including the 2012/13 Premier League title, although Ferguson's departure cast uncertainty over his United career.

During David Moyes' brief tenure, Welbeck found himself shunted to wide positions and his playing time diminished further following Louis van Gaal's appointment. This ultimately led to a shock £16million deadline day transfer to rivals Arsenal in 2014, with Arsene Wenger famously snatching him from Tottenham’s grasp while in Rome to meet the Pope.

Reflecting on his bold decision to depart his boyhood club, Welbeck explained: "At the time I was playing on the left-wing a lot and in a 4-4-2, which is very difficult for me because I can't make an impact on the game. I can play it to the best of my ability but that's not best for the team, and I could make a bigger impact playing in my preferred position."

He added: "You start to have thoughts but at that time you're still going to training and I was still giving 100 per cent and giving my all in every single game - that's just me, I'm not going to change that. But you do start to think about what's best for you."

Van Gaal, who was United's manager at the time, didn't hold back in his assessment of Welbeck, saying: "He has played, after [his loan spell at] Sunderland, three seasons at Manchester United but he doesn't have the record of [Robin] Van Persie or [Wayne] Rooney and that is the standard."

Eager to prove his doubters wrong, Welbeck endeared himself to the Arsenal faithful with crucial goals, including three against his old club, and contributed to two FA Cup triumphs. His five-year stint in north London was plagued by injuries, however.

Knee cartilage damage in 2016 as well as repeated groin and knee issues were followed by a broken ankle sustained in a Europa League game in November 2018. The latter proved particularly damaging to his Arsenal career as it came just months before his contract expiry in the summer of 2019.

Arsenal were unwilling to offer the striker, who was turning 29, a new deal without guarantees over his fitness. In the end, the north Londoners allowed his contract to run down, meaning he left having scored 32 goals in 126 appearances for the club.

A gruelling 2019/20 season at Watford followed as the Hornets were relegated. Yet, Welbeck's fortunes turned when he signed for Brighton on a free transfer in October 2020, with Graham Potter at the helm.

Since arriving at the Amex, Welbeck has featured more regularly and found the net with greater frequency than his spells at either of the two Premier League giants he represented in the past, registering 44 goals across 179 matches. While still not a particularly impressive strike rate, the past two campaigns have seen the former England forward evolve into a more composed finisher in front of goal.

This season, he is on course to hit double figures across all competitions for the fifth time in his professional career. Reflecting on his impressive scoring form, Welbeck told The Argus earlier in the season: "I'm happier than ever. I think the main thing for me is the consistency of staying on the pitch and getting a rhythm of playing game after game after game.

"Unfortunately, throughout my career, I've had some really big injuries that have maybe derailed that, and it's difficult. You have to try and get back into form, you have to try and get back to match fitness and that sort of stuff. But the last couple years have been really good, and I'm feeling really good. Long may it continue.”