Welbeck looked lively during his first appearances since mid-October (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has allayed fears over Danny Welbeck after the striker was withdrawn at half-time in Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to FC Koln in the Europa League on Thursday.

The England international, who was on the bench for the north London derby, made the starting XI for the first time in five weeks after overcoming a groin injury.

But he lasted just 45 minutes of the match before being replaced by Alex Iwobi at half-time, prompting fears that he had aggravated the injury.

Arsenal fans were delighted to see Welbeck back in an Arsenal shirt again (Picture: Getty)

Fortunately, it had always been Arsenal’s intention to withdraw Welbeck at that point as the club look to manage his injury and prevent any further setbacks ahead of a busy run of games.

‘It was the plan for Danny Welbeck to only play 45 minutes,’ Wenger said. ‘Medically, the risk was too great to play him for longer than that.

‘He was ready to stay on and frustrated to come off, but he’s in good shape.’

He expanded on Welbeck further in an interview with BT Sport: ‘I would say he started a bit slowly and grew during the game.

‘In the last 25 minutes [of the first half] I think he was outstanding. He was frustrated to come off, but it’s a long time he hasn’t played.

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‘And we play Sunday, we play Wednesday and we play again on the weekend after, so I was a bit cautious with him.’

Arsenal travel to Burnley in their next Premier League fixture before hosting Huddersfield in midweek, and then face a massive top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United at the Emirates that Wenger will want Welbeck fully fit and available for.

After Welbeck went off in Cologne, Arsenal lost some of their control and attacking verve and ultimately succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to the team who sit bottom of the Bundesliga, though nevertheless progressed to the last 32 of the Europa League as group winners.