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Arsenal: Danny Welbeck like a new signing for Arsene Wenger

By Craig Pearson

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal celebrates with Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal after scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Danny Welbeck of Arsenal celebrates with Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal after scoring his sides first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on January 28, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Danny Welbeck hadn’t been seen this season before January came around. But now the Arsenal man is back and ready to remind everybody what he is capable of.

Arsenal welcomed Danny Welbeck back to the first team this month. The forward has been out of action with a knee injury since last season, and only played his first game of the campaign on January 7.

After returning, Welbeck continued his comeback by scoring his first goals of the season in the Gunners’ 5-0 hammering of Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday. Welbeck netted a brace and looked lively throughout the 65 minutes he was on the pitch.

Arsene Wenger will be happy with what he saw and the return of Danny Welbeck to the first team will be like a new signing for the Arsenal boss. Although, his team don’t necessarily need any further firepower in attack.

Arsenal are the second-highest goalscorers in the Premier League behind only Liverpool. Alexis Sanchez has been on fire for much of the campaign, scoring 15 league goals so far. Whilst Olivier Giroud has increasingly played a part as the season has progressed.

But Welbeck brings more to the table than just an extra body upfront. The 26-year-old can play either as a striker or out wide and brings versatility. Welbeck also offers a very high work rate and a natural eagerness to win the ball back when out of possession.

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That type of work rate and energy can be infectious. Welbeck’s speed and willingness to run in behind opposition defenses is always a threat too. And the striker can hold the ball up also and bring others into the game. Danny Welbeck is a rounded, reliable, team-oriented attacker.

His finishing has been criticized in the past, but he took his chances well against Southampton. And despite sometimes fluffing his lines in front of goal, the Englishman is not the type of player to hide or shy away from taking any further chances.

Welbeck’s return also means that Sanchez can now play in a deeper position again, without the team losing pace up front. Giroud has done well recently, but he is a completely different type of striker to either Sanchez or Welbeck. And Giroud is the type of striker to score in bursts anyway. That bubble will burst soon as usual.

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Then Welbeck’s return will be all the more convenient. And with the likes of Sanchez, Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wenger will not be short of pace in attack any time soon. Every manager loves to have options, and Wenger will have plenty of them now.

The return of Danny Welbeck is like a new signing.

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