Europa League: Östersund 0-3 Arsenal

ADS 300px;height:250px

Martin Keown and Jermaine Jenas believe Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck was holding back in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Ostersunds in the Europa League. Arsene Wenger's side eased to victory to secure a first-leg advantage over the Swedish side on Thursday night. Nacho Monreal opened the scoring for the Gunners before Sotirios Papagiannopoulos scored an own-goal and Mesut Ozil sealed the win in the second half. As Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is cup-tied, Danny Welbeck led the Arsenal attack but both Keown and Jenas insisted Welbeck was not at his best as he was wary of playing on the 4G pitch due to suffering long-term injuries. Keown told BT Sport: 'When a player is coming back from the very bad injuries that he’s had, I think he’s just wanting to get through the game unscathed. ‘He said the pitch was “hard” ‘He’s really devoid of confidence at the moment. It was a difficult night for him. '[Saman] Ghoddos the opposition striker was probably a better player tonight than Danny Welbeck. While Jenas agreed, he said: 'I think the more games he gets the more he’ll improve. 'I've been in a situation where I ruptured my Achilles and being asked to train on a 3G pitch and you’re half going “anything could happen here” so I feel for him. ‘These pitches do have their risks. ‘I think he was a bit worried tonight, you could tell by his interview afterwards, maybe it’s just in his head, I don’t blame him at all, it was about getting through the game for him and then kicking on. 'He’s not had one operation, he’s had two serious ones. The mental side is the toughest part and trusting his body again but that will come.'

Since moving from Manchester United to Arsenal in 2014 he has been out for 577 days and has missed 82 games. Keown added: ‘I think he mentioned it in every answer that he gave but at some point he has to realise that he’s done the rehabilitation, the knees can stand up to everything, and get out there and do his job, forget about his body and when you’ve got that in your mind, it’s very difficult to be as effective as he needs to be. ‘I genuinely believe the player is in pain.' In the absence of Aubameyang, former Arsenal defender Keown believed it was Welbeck's chance to prove what he could do and show he could be a key man for the Gunners. Prior to kick-off Keown said: ‘I think he’s a good man, a great attitude and he now will feel he can become the No 1 Arsenal striker. I think that role is up for grabs. ‘I know Aubameyang has just come to the club. 'Think back to his performance in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. He was absolutely awesome. ‘We’ve not seen that again so I would be pushing him – let’s see what’s under the bonnet. ‘You’ve got one more go at it because he’s going to be passed by by other players once they’re fit and Aubameyang’s going to play in the Premier League games. ‘It’s a chance for Welbeck to really stake a claim to be the No 1 Arsenal striker.’ The England striker, who will want to play as much as possible to earn a call-up to Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad, has started just seven Premier League games this season.