Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has revealed he was pleased to see close friend Marcus Rashford score a brace for the Red Devils, despite the 18-year-old's goals condemning Arsenal to a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Welbeck and Rashford both played for Manchester-based junior club Fletcher Moss before joining United's world famous academy.

"He's done brilliantly well. Individually I was really pleased for him, obviously to make a great debut like that in the Europa League and then into the weekend he did well," Welbeck told the Daily Mirror.

"It was disappointing [for us] on the day. I was down when we lost that match. I'm pleased for Marcus but disappointed to lose that game.

"My brother is very close with his family. He's known his family for a very long time and Marcus was coming through the ranks at United when I was playing in the first team and I would see him all of the time.

"He's someone that I always spoke to. He's a great kid. He's very level headed. He's got great potential and I hope he does very well. I've spoken to him a couple of times.

"Fletcher Moss was where it started for me and a lot of other players as well. It's vital that they get the stature back up again, get everything running smoothly again. There's a lot of talent in Manchester that grows up in and around that club. Hopefully it can keep going for many more years."