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Danny Welbeck must lead Arsenal line ahead of Alexis Sanchez - O'Leary

Arsenal's record appearance maker David O'Leary has urged Arsene Wenger to pick Danny Welbeck as his main striker, rather than his biggest summer buy Alexis Sanchez.

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Welbeck, 23, arrived at the Emirates in a 16 million-pound move on deadline day to add a front line already strengthened by the signing of Sanchez for 35 million pounds earlier in the transfer window.

But former Leeds and Aston Villa manager O'Leary -- who played 722 games for the Gunners between 1975 and 1993 -- believes Wenger ought to have signed a physically powerful defensive midfielder, and admits he struggles to see his old club winning the title this season.

The former Republic of Ireland international, who was a Sport Mobile delegate at the Soccerex Convention in Manchester, told ESPN: "Do I see Arsenal winning it? I don't them with the squad they have now finishing ahead of Chelsea but I'd love to be proved wrong. Chelsea I think have bought well. They look really, really good.

"I thought [Arsenal] have done fantastically well. You'd hope they'd do more. I was hoping they would get a big, strong central midfield player after what they have got."

Former Barcelona winger Sanchez started as a striker in the 2-2 draw at Everton, when he came off at half-time, and the 1-0 win over Besiktas, when he scored the goal to earn Arsenal a place in the Champions League group stages.

But O'Leary -- who was a league champion with Arsenal in 1989 and 1991 -- would prefer to see deadline-day signing Welbeck leading the line when the Gunners face Manchester City on Saturday, with Sanchez used on the flanks.

He explained: "I would rather have Welbeck as that pivotal, main one up front; he is stronger. I don't see Sanchez as that out-and-out centre-forward. I see him coming in from either side and playing around [Olivier] Giroud or Welbeck."

England international Welbeck only scored 29 goals in 142 games for Manchester United but many of those appearances were as a winger, a substitute or both.

And O'Leary admits he is unsure how prolific the 23-year-old will prove to be, adding: "That is the thing about him we are waiting to see. He has got to score more goals. Only time will tell if he does that at Arsenal but if he does, they will have bought themselves a really good player."

Centre-back O'Leary debuted for Arsenal at 17, and the Gunners have another teenager in the middle of their defence in 19-year-old summer signing Calum Chambers.

And O'Leary added "They have bought potential for the future. He has come in has handled himself very well. There is a long way to go but he looks a talent and I hope he does very well but I think it is too early to give a judgment and say he is going to be a centre-half for Arsenal because he has got to play a lot more games for that."