Welbeck Return a Timely Boost For Arsenal and England
As far as returns from injury are concerned, Danny Welbeck’s was as emphatic as Arsenal fans had hoped. The striker made his first appearance from the bench in February after 10 months on the sidelines as the Gunners were drawing with table toppers Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium. As the enthralling encounter neared its climax, Marcin Wasilewski conceded a needless free-kick for a foul on Nacho Monreal.
The tension could be cut with a knife as Mesut Ozil stood over the ball, ready to deliver from the right. The tension turned to joy as his set piece was headed past goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel by Welbeck to send the Emirates into delirium. It was a timely reminder of the 25-year-old’s striking quality as both Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud were struggling to establish themselves as the striker the Gunners required to mount a title pursuit.
While they now sit 11 points behind the Foxes with a game in hand, there is a chance - albeit a slim one - Arsenal can still secure domestic glory this season. His early goal in the 2-0 win at Everton on Saturday helped settle nerves at Goodison Park and saw Arsenal end the week on a high note following respective FA Cup and Champions League exits.
It was a gamble to start him at the weekend, with manager Arsene Wenger revealing Welbeck has still not completely recovered from his knee problem, but clearly a calculated risk that paid off given his early strike. The goal set him on his way to a WhoScored rating of 7.86 on Merseyside, with his rating from his three league starts this season now a commendable 7.51.
“He can play on the flanks and through the middle, so I can play him with Giroud or [instead of] Giroud – that gives so many options,” Wenger said of Welbeck this weekend, with the Englishman’s versatility indeed a bonus. The emergence of Alex Iwobi, though, coupled with Giroud and Walcott’s disappointing form, suggests the Arsenal boss would be best suited deploying the frontman as the lone striker in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, as he has done on two of his three league starts this term.
Importantly, though, he offers a different approach to Giroud and Walcott. The former is a target man by nature, with the Frenchman capable of bringing the ball down for teammates, while the latter is capable of maximising his searing pace on the shoulder of the last defender. However, while Walcott possesses great speed, he lacks the necessary mental capacity to excel as a striker.
Welbeck, though, provides both an aerial presence in the final third and the speed to break in behind the opposition defence, the latter of which is crucial with a player of Ozil’s creative quality in the number 10 role. Importantly, he also has the intelligence in the final third to know when to pull to the flanks and to remain central for the good of the team. This air of unpredictability means he is more difficult to pick up by the opposition, creating space in the final third.
While Giroud and Walcott’s respective games are somewhat easy to read, Welbeck’s combination of skills mean Arsenal can adopt a direct approach to their familiar possession-based game and the England international would still perform sufficiently for the Gunners. Indeed, he is making the most of his time on the pitch following his return from injury. Of those to score three of more Premier League goals this season, Welbeck is scoring more regularly (one every 92 minutes) than any other player in England’s top tier this term.
Not only that, but a conversion rate of 33.3% - the fifth best of players to score three or more league goals - suggests he is not only making the most of his time on the pitch, but also the chances presented to him. Furthermore, despite making just five league appearances this year, Welbeck’s three goals put him top of Arsenal’s goalscoring charts in 2016.
His return to action has provided the injection of offensive quality for Arsenal they so desperately lacked with Giroud and Walcott struggling for form. It was little surprise as such that Roy Hodgson instantly re-called Welbeck back into the England squad, despite his lack of game time following injury. The former Manchester United striker has regularly impressed for the Three Lions and with Euro 2016 rapidly approaching, Hodgson will be keen to reintegrate Welbeck back into the national fold.
He faces increased competition for a starting spot from Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, but Welbeck more than warrants a spot in the national set up. The striker has hit the ground running after his knee injury, which comes as a boost to club and country.
How big a boost to Arsenal and England is Welbeck's return to action? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
