Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck relishing Alexandre Lacazette competition and believes it will help show supporters what he can do

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Danny Welbeck believes a full pre-season – and the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette – will help him show Arsenal fans the player he can be.

The 26-year-old has been unfortunate with injuries since making the shock £16m switch from Manchester United in 2014.

And while he has shown glimpses of his talent, he feels the competition that the £52m record signing brings along with a clean bill of health can see him thrive.

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck believes full pre-season will help him show fans what he can do

Welbeck is also relishing the challenge of competing with £52m signing Alexandre Lacazette

‘I haven’t had the best of luck with injuries,’ Welbeck said. ‘It’s hindered my progression and where I want to be but hopefully I can stay injury free and really show what I can do.’

The England international, speaking at an Emirates soccer clinic in Sydney, where the Gunners are on tour, is relishing being fit for the build up to the new season.

‘It’s obviously nice to be fit for pre-season,’ he explained. ‘I’m fit, not match fit, but going into it injury free is good for me. Build a base, I can build on that for the rest of the season.’

Welbeck has picked up injuries in each of his three seasons at the Emirates and was out for eight months last year.

Welbeck, who has suffered injury setbacks at Arsenal, featured in the 2-0 win over Sydney

‘It’s been frustrating,’ he admitted. ‘I’ve spoken about it in the past and it’ s not nice. Obviously you’ve got to deal with the injuries but that’s behind me now and I’ve got to kick on from now.’

The signing of France striker Lacazette has increased competition and prompted Olivier Giroud to question his future with Arsenal.

Welbeck, who started last night’s 2-0 victory over Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium however, is relishing the challenge.

The 26-year-old is looking to kick on now after admitting the injury setbacks were hard to take

‘I think from when I was a little boy playing in the academy, you’ve always got competition wherever you may be and it’s something you learn to deal with,’ he said. ‘You just want to keep on improving. It makes you hungrier.’

Welbeck missed England’s miserable Euro 2016 through injury. But his thoughts at the moment are on club and not country.

‘That (England) is not in my mind at the moment,’ he said. ‘First and foremost is staying injury free, building up a good level of games at club level, the rest of it we’ll see what happens when it comes down to it.’