Welbeck earns 1st Arsenal start since May

Danny Welbeck is set to make his first Arsenal start since last May after being named to the starting XI for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash at Southampton.

Welbeck will start as striker with Olivier Giroud not in the squad and Alexis Sanchez on the bench, as banished Gunners boss Arsene Wenger opts for an unusual side with Shkodran Mustafi the only holdover from last weekend's league victory over Burnley.

Welbeck, 26, has been out with a knee concern, making his last start on May 8 2016 against Manchester City.

Speaking with reporters ahead of Saturday's match at St. Mary's, Wenger said of Welbeck, "He looks sharp, he’s worked very hard. Maybe it will be an opportunity for him."

Sure to garner criticism should the Gunners get booted from the FA Cup by the same Saints side that knocked a second-choice Arsenal squad out of the League Cup, Wenger admitted eyeing Tuesday's match with Watford when constructing Saturday's squad.

"At the moment we have to fight everywhere. If we give up in the championship people will say, 'Are you mad?’ We have to fight for the championship absolutely to strengthen our position in the Premier League," The Frenchman on a four-match ban conceded.

"We have a home game against Watford on Tuesday that is absolutely vital again."

World Cup winner Per Mertesacker also returns to first-team football Saturday with a spot on the bench after a protracted injury recovery, and Theo Walcott makes his first appearance since Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at the Etihad on Dec. 18.