Paul Ince: Selling Welbeck Is A Mistake

Former Manchester United captain Paul Ince believes his former club should not have let Danny Welbeck leave.

Welbeck, 23, who had been at Old Trafford since the age of eight, joined Arsenal for £16m in September.

"When he left Manchester United it was a shock. He has got pace to get behind teams and create gaps for others to exploit," Ince told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I think it was a bad, bad decision to let him go. He offers something different to what Manchester United have got.

"They haven't got pace - (Wayne) Rooney is not the quickest, neither is (Robin) van Persie and (Radamel) Falcao is injured.

"Since he has gone to Arsenal his performances have been fantastic. I don't think he has got anything to prove to Manchester United."

Welbeck scored 29 times in 142 United appearances, but since his move he has found the net five times for the Londoners in 12 appearances.

Rooney believes his former club-mate did the right thing by leaving United to join Arsenal.

"For Danny, and his own career, it was probably the best move for him," United captain Rooney told MUTV ahead of Saturday's trip to the Emirates.

"He's done great and scored a few goals. Danny gives you what he always gives you - a good shift."

Rooney, who played alongside Welbeck for England against Slovenia and Scotland in the recent international break, admits it will be strange playing against his former team-mate.

"Of course, Danny has been here all of his life," Rooney added. "He is a Manchester lad so it is weird seeing him there.

"At times, as I said to him, he works a bit too hard but he's scoring goals and he's doing well."