Lure of scoring goals kept me going: Danny Welbeck

Arsenal's Danny Welbeck (right) celebrates a goal with teammate Theo Walcott against Southampton during the FA Cup fourth round encounter on Saturday. Arsenal won 5-0. Pic/AFP

London: Danny Welbeck has admitted the carrot of scoring goals kept him sane during his 20 months battling two consecutive knee problems.

Arsenal's England forward fired a brace for his first goals since April as the Gunners thumped sorry Southampton 5-0 at St Mary's on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's men cruised into the FA Cup's fifth round, with Theo Walcott also stealing a hat-trick on the south coast.

Welbeck claimed his first goals on his fourth appearance since a second bout of knee surgery inside two years, then admitted he had to keep dreaming of that moment during painstaking rehabilitation.

Asked if the hunger for goals kept him focused in recovery, Welbeck replied: "Yeah, definitely. I think because I had this experience before, coming back from an injury, I kind of knew what to expect even though it's a tough time. It was obviously good to be back out on the pitch after such a long time out, it's been a tough few months."