Danny revives the glory days

The smoke trails emanated from the flare-throwing Galatasaray supporters but the vapour trails came from Danny Welbeck, who proved too quick and hot for Galatasaray to handle.

There was so much to admire in Welbeck's performance, not simply the composed way he took his hat-trick but also his endless, selfless running when Arsenal went down to 10 men after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was sent off in the 63rd minute.

Front man, team man and a man for all reasons.

Such was Welbeck's finishing style, dashing through and calmly placing the ball first under Fernando Muslera, then past Muslera and eventually over Muslera, that some observers narrowed their eyes, cast their minds back in time and imagined it was the great Thierry Henry gliding through.

The excited chatter among fans was that Welbeck now had four goals in his first five games for Arsenal while it took Henry nine outings before he found the mark, away at Southampton on September 18 1999.

Given that Henry subsequently set the club scoring record of 228 goals, comparisons are slightly premature. Welbeck hardly needs the weight of expectation placed on him. Let him be Danny One, not Thierry Two.

The history books contain warnings as well as warming messages. Arsenal fans will not care to be reminded that their last player to register a Champions League hat-trick was Nicklas Bendtner in 2010.

Arsenal are more likely to erect statues to thank those clubs who took the unpopular Dane off on loan before he eventually departed on a free transfer to Wolfsburg.

Welbeck is speeding more along the Henry highway rather than the Bendtner cul de sac. Arsene Wenger sounded almost surprised afterwards when discussing Welbeck's pace, but this has always been one of his strengths.

Welbeck has been talking for almost a year of his desire to be played through the middle; he spoke to David Moyes about it last season and mentioned it to Louis van Gaal this season before realising swiftly that his future lay elsewhere, moving to Arsenal on deadline day. The £16-million fee is looking a bargain.

Welbeck was enthused also by the prospect of playing alongside England teammates Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has thrived in tandem with Mesut Özil and dovetailed well with the Chilean Alexis Sánchez. Both Özil and Sánchez, who scored the other goal, shone on Wednesday night.

When Arsenal needed to get their Group D campaign back on track, having lost at Borussia Dortmund, Welbeck delivered goals. When they were under pressure, he kept running in attack, closing down defenders and sprinting back to help out.

It was the type of commanding, team-minded display that will have delighted and also concerned the watching England manager, Roy Hodgson. Welbeck could have pulled a muscle as the lactic acid built up late on but he never stopped running.

With Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge the centre of a club-versus-country wrangle, Welbeck's form is well-timed for Hodgson with Euro 2016 qualifying resuming next week. San Marino and Estonia defenders will not enjoy watching clips of Welbeck in action.

Wednesday was a great evening for Welbeck personally and Arsenal collectively as they got their Champions League campaign back on track in style.