Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has suggested that he gambled on the fitness of match-winner Danny Welbeck in Sunday afternoon's meeting with Leicester City.

The England international came off the bench to make his first appearance of the season in the Gunners' vital 2-1 win over the league leaders.

Welbeck was not originally part of Wenger's plans for the top-of-the-table showdown but, having impressed during training on the eve of the game, Wenger decided to name the forward in his matchday squad.

Wenger's faith was rewarded deep in added time when Welbeck headed home with virtually the last act of the tightly-contested affair in North London, dragging his side right back into the title race in the process.

"It was a great decision because Danny Welbeck is a great player," the Frenchman is quoted as saying by The Telegraph. "Everybody is extremely happy for him because he has been out for 10 months and that is an eternity for a player. It is 10 years in a normal life.

"In the last two days he was convincing in training. I planned on Friday morning to play him next week. But, in the last two training sessions, he was very strong and I decided just in the end to include him."

Arsenal now find themselves just two points behind Leicester, with 12 games of the season left to play.