Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is hoping for an injury-free campaign in the Gunners shirt after having face twin injury setbacks over the past three years.

The England international joined the Gunners from Manchester United back in the summer of 2014, and he looked to be progressing into a top-class prospect until a string of knee injuries restricted his playing time.

Welbeck suffered his first cruciate ligament injury while on international duty with England in March 2015, and this kept him out of first-team action until January of the next year. Following his recovery, he managed just a handful of games after which another knee injury ruled him out of Euro 2016.

Speaking on pre-season duty in Australia, Welbeck revealed his frustration at the lost time, but he is now hopeful of making amends after starring in the club's 2-1 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final in May.

He told reporters: “It’s been frustrating, 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. I’ve got to build a base for pre-season and hopefully stay injury-free for the season. I haven’t had the best of luck with injuries, 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."

Welbeck has featured prominently for the Gunners in recent pre-season games, and he will be hoping that the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette does not limit his playing time with the World Cup coming along next year. Lacazette is capable of playing as a support striker in addition to his centre-forward role, and he could be seen as a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who has yet to extend his contract at the Emirates. Sanchez has just a year left on his previous Gunners deal, but manager Arsene Wenger remains confident that the player will stay amid the transfer interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.