Giroud Close To Return, Will Welbeck Remain First Choice?

Danny Welbeck’s deadline day arrival at the Arsenal was quite a shock for a few reasons. Firstly, the former born and bred United Academy graduate was allowed to join a rival. Secondly, Arsenal fans wanted a big game striker and Welbeck was better known for his workhorse-like displays for United on the wing. Welbeck chose Arsenal over a string of other potential destinations, (including bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur who attempt to sign anyone we do) for a fee of £16 million. Not making the impact at Old Trafford as expected earlier on in his career, Wenger decided to give him a chance at Arsenal in his preferred position.

We are now a quarter of the way through the season, and with only two league goals to his name, some are asking; was he really worth the gamble? (Short answer is yes). And welcome the continued links to players like Cavani and Higuain whilst others are happy with our new striker and want the transfer focus to be solely on defensive reinforcements.

It’s early days but if Balotelli can get stick this early on, so can Welbeck – and as we’ve seen over the past few years, Arsenal fans can be a lot less forgiving than some of their Premier League counterparts.

The hard facts show he hasn’t produced the goods in the Premier League, whilst he scored a hat-trick in the Champions League, it’s worth remembering that it was against a relatively Galatasaray side. Stats bods will point to his two goals in the league, and 30 goals in 131 Premier League games and surmise that he’s set to score another six goals this season with that track record. However, as many have pointed out, he hasn’t played many games through the middle and with the quality Arsenal have in midfield and wide areas he is bound to improve on that. His goal record for Arsenal is much more impressive than his goal record elsewhere and maybe that is what we should be focusing on, however there are facets of his game that need improving if he wants to be a prolific striker for Arsenal.

Against Galatasary he looked alive; he was stronger and quicker than the opposing defence. Against Chelsea’s strong back line containing the likes of Cahill and Terry he faded away; he couldn’t get in the game. He needs to be tougher and thicker skinned like the Aguero’s and Sanchez’s of the league – persistence and gambling does pay off and he certainly has the stamina to do what Sanchez does in snapping at people’s heels and chasing down everything.

Before the Sunderland match – which was previewed at Bluesquare.com –  Arsenal met Hull and Welbeck had trouble dominating a stiff Hull back line. It is games like that – where the opposition set out to defend and frustrate Arsenal – where Arsenal need someone who can make the difference in the final third. They have players who can unlock the defence with accurate passes, they have pacey players who can tire out the defenders but they have missed a player who can hold the ball up and bring others into play. Ironically, last season it was almost the opposite problem and it’s clear that for most of the time you need all three in order to win in this league. With Giroud out we have lost the hold up element of our play and that is an area where Welbeck needs to improve if he wants to be the number one striker at Arsenal. At the moment he has his place by default, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it but it does mean he doesn’t have to perform to guarantee a spot the next week – for now.

Wenger announced today that Giroud is progressing faster than expected and could be back playing in early December. This is great news for Arsenal because we need as many players available as possible and competition for places is always good. For Welbeck this means he needs to step it up a notch in the ball retention stakes if he doesn’t want to lose his place to Giroud, if not for the majority of the time but for far more games than he can consider a fair rest.

If he does then it’s great news for Arsenal because we’ll have a much more complete player on our hands and an added bonus will hopefully be Giroud upping his game to win his spot back.

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