Danny Welbeck keeps Wenger's Arsenal on course for greatest season since 2004

All’s Wel that ends Wel. Arsenal’s season and perhaps Arsene Wenger’s job was (again) hanging by a thread in darkest Moscow on Thursday night until Danny Welbeck emerged with all the purpose of a man who has discovered the meaning of life.

A 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow for a 6-3 aggregate success in the Europa League quarter-finals does not tell the story of a fraught night on the run for a group of ragged Gunners under hostile fire at the VEB Arena.

Having scored twice in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday, Welbeck decided to take his rejuvenated roadshow on the road to the Russian capital. And how badly was he needed with a slipshod Arsenal defending a 4-1 advantage from the first leg with all the reliability of Gerard Pique in a Barcelona away shirt.

In the twilight zone in Moscow, Arsenal were playing Russian roulette wearing a blindfold. Trailing 2-0 to eminently preventable goals from Fedor Chalov and Kirill Nababkin either side of half-time, the visiting side looked to be in desperate trouble.

Wenger was sporting the hangdog look of a manager awaiting the gallows as CSKA teetered on the brink of a third goal that would have left Arsenal in severe danger of going under. In all probability a third then for the home side would have left Arsenal floundering in a freezing Moskva.

Astonishingly, Arsenal had played for 75 minutes without managing a shot on goal until the wonder of Welbeck.

"I would say above all the qualities, when you have back to the wall, Danny Welbeck looks like he has an extra special motivation in his body and head to give you something special," said Wenger.

Welbeck and Mohamed Elneny, who revelled in midfield after a brief dalliance with defence before the second CSKA goal, decided to make it their personal business to do their manager a solid 15 minutes from safety.

Welbeck coasted in from the left flank, played a lovely one-two with Elneny, who picked him out with the eagle eyed presence of someone who has mastered needlepoint, before lifting the ball over Igor Akinfeev to settle nerves and the tie.

The relief among the Arsenal players was palpable as Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin smothered Welbeck with more success than their companions had smothered the CSKA forays forward. Putin smiled less at the Russian elections.

In particular, Elneny produced some glorious awareness in the second half. With Henrikh Mkhitaryan apparently struggling to return before the end of the season due to a knee injury and Granit Xhaka missing through illness, it was vital that the incoming figures performed. In Welbeck and Elneny, Arsenal had two unlikely heroes who seized the moment.

With Welbeck hitting double figures for the third time in his career, and the first time for Arsenal with 10 so far, England manager Gareth Southgate will take note of a man who has already shone in Russia before the World Cup.

Elneny produced one more final piece of incisiveness when he played through Aaron Ramsey in added time for the classy Welshman to chip the ball into the net for a 2-2 draw that never looked likely. Better late than never.

Arsenal remain on course for arguably their most successful season under Wenger since he last won the Premier League in 2004. From the Invincibles to the Unpredictables. Arsenal have embarked upon a seven-game unbeaten run since losing four straight games.

Whatever is said about the habitual FA Cup-winning seasons, the old UEFA Cup trophy remains European football’s second most coveted prize. The Champions League qualification that comes with it is a lucrative silver lining worth celebrating.

If Arsenal had been offered such a scenario at the start of the season, it is debatable if finishing inside the top four in the Premier League is so important. As Manchester United discovered a year ago, continental conquests bring a warm inner glow.

Wenger has earned the right to such breathing space because his side produced a side of their character they have been accused of lacking too often. There is a maverick element to Arsenal amid the obvious lack of consistency that sees them joust with Chelsea for fifth place in the Premier League.

Arsenal must improve with Atletico Madrid, Marseille and Salzburg lying in wait in the semi-final draw on Friday.

But at least they are there. Avoiding Atletico would be another touch after somehow escaping from the midnight hour in Moscow with their season still on the boil.

The Wenger Out brigade should see fit to call a ceasefire while such glorious success is suddenly tantalisingly within touching distance.