A goal and a solid performance on Saturday from Danny Welbeck has got to have people asking whether or not Arsenal actually do need a striker.

The 25-year-old had missed 10 months with a knee injury before a return in mid-February but has already looked in good form since coming back into the side. The role of striker was one shared by Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott in Welbeck’s absence, but he is staking his claim for that position now and Owen Hargreaves has no doubt where he should play.

“I think you play him in a central area. I think everybody who has played with Danny Welbeck will say that,” BT Sport‘s Hargreaves told the cameras after Welbeck’s performance at Goodison Park. “He’ll score goals if he plays in this central area.”

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Danny Welbeck gives Arsenal the lead against Everton on Saturday. (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Capable of playing wide, Welbeck left Manchester United for more opportunities down the middle in the summer of 2014 but has been used wide fairly often by Arsène Wenger. Now he’s fit again, though, Welbeck is showing he has all the attributes to play through the middle.

It isn’t a fixed position and one of the best things is that Welbeck often finds himself drifting wide, helping his teammates out in possession or creating gaps for others to thrive in. He really has everything to play in the middle.

“Danny’s such a great athlete and he’s always on the move,” Hargreaves added. “He’s a great option for players in possession.”

That was evident at the weekend and there’s little argument that Wenger should now give Welbeck the chance to prove he can be Arsenal’s striker in the long term.