Five things we learned as Arsenal kickstart Euro campaign

Welbeck sympathisers have always said that just because he did not always show composure in front of goal for Manchester United, it did not necessarily follow he was incapable of it. Rather, composure is linked to confidence and with a run of games as a centre-forward.

So it was last night when Welbeck converted three chances of the type he might have missed last season. All three were good runs in behind, showing intelligence as well as athleticism.

Off the ball, on the mark

One of the many complaints about Arsenal in recent years has been that they have too many players who run towards the ball but not enough who run away from it. So it was impressive last night to see Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings, both punchy, powerful runners capable of stretching and dragging Galatasaray's defence with them.

Oxlade-Chamberlain played high and wide on the right, Sanchez was more direct, running at goal and scoring the third. It also allowed passers like Mezut Özil and Santi Cazorla to flourish.

Szczesny's costly weakness

Wojciech Szczesny is a fine goalkeeper, especially for a 24-year-old, but if he does have a weakness it is in coming off his line such as his advance in the second half which brought down Burak Yilmaz and meant he saw red.

It did not matter, even though Yilmaz beat David Ospina - who will play the Anderlecht away game in three weeks' time - thereby changing the feel of the final 30 minutes.

This weakness has cost him before. In the last 16 last season, it was Arjen Robben he brought down, and Arsenal went out.

Timely reminder from Özil

Özil still has some way to go but this performance was an important reminder of something that was at risk of being forgotten: that he is a supremely talented footballer, one of the most naturally gifted in Europe, and with the right focus and application he can be decisive.

Özil's movement and skill were excellent, especially when playing the perfectly timed through pass for Sanchez's goal.

Arsène Wenger last month said it was Özil's timing, more than anything, that stood out and so it appeared here. Chelsea will provide a sterner test.

Arsenal can go the distance

Arsenal are sometimes labelled as wilters under pressure but they can be proud of the way they saw out a game that might have become rather nervy as they went down to 10 men with half an hour remaining.

Even without their captain Mikel Arteta, and their sleekest midfielder in Aaron Ramsey, they kept their heads and kept the ball and never looked in much danger of what would have been a disaster.

It certainly helped that they could bring on Tomas Rosicky, whose game-management skills and football instincts are as sharp as ever, even if his legs are tiring.