It is easy to forget that Danny Welbeck only ended up at Arsenal because Arsene Wenger had to get up early for an engagement with Pope Francis in Italy.

“If I had not travelled that day, Welbeck would not be here,” the Gunners boss confirmed in response to criticism he spent deadline day of September 2014 in Rome, managing one of the sides contesting an inter-religious charity game labelled the ‘Match for Peace’.

Wenger refused to elaborate in great detail — beyond stating the 6am wake-up call made him available for longer than usual — but Standard Sport first revealed Welbeck’s preference to reject Tottenham and pursue a move to Arsenal, prompting the Frenchman to consider an opportune deal which had not seemed possible prior to the final 24 hours of that window.

Wenger had his doubts — later admitting he wanted to take the striker on loan with an option to buy — but Manchester United’s relatively conservative £16million valuation convinced him to take the plunge.

​Welbeck viewed Arsenal as the safer bet in offering Champions League football. But ironically, the 27-year-old now finds himself thrust into the position of leading the pursuit of a return to Europe’s premier club competition.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible due to the presence of his former club, Borussia Dortmund, in the Europa League knockout stages, that role had been reserved for Alexandre Lacazette until it was confirmed on Tuesday that he had undergone surgery on his left knee and would be ruled out for four to six weeks. That timescale rules him out of both matches against Ostersunds FK and a possible two-legged last-16 tie in the first half of next month at the very least.

Wenger could pull a surprise, maybe utilising Mesut Ozil as a false nine or entrusting one of the younger players but given the rapidly increasing importance Europa League progression now has in Arsenal’s season, Welbeck is favourite to get the nod.

It has, in some respects, been a long time coming. Rumour has it that Wenger had begun to question Welbeck’s ongoing worth, sparking the interest of Inter Milan and Besiktas as they spent last month scouring the market for a forward, but in the end a sale was not seriously considered.

The departures of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott weakened the typical Europa League team Wenger utilised in the group stages but Lacazette’s injury has compounded the shortage to leave Welbeck with what could be one final chance to resurrect his Arsenal career.

He has suffered regular injury setbacks but a goal return of 22 from 92 matches only places further questions over his ability in front of goal. It was the reason former United boss Louis van Gaal allowed him to leave in the first place, although Welbeck had also grown tired of being denied a consistent centre-forward role, finding himself shunted out to the left under David Moyes.

“It does get frustrating,” he said in May 2014. “I’d like to play central. I’ve been playing on the left and it’s got to the time where I want a place up front.”

Wenger has regularly used him on the flank, too; much has been made of the impact Aubameyang’s arrival has had on Lacazette but what of Welbeck? Now, he should get an opportunity. A failure to take it will ensure Wenger is sleep-deprived for more troubling reasons.