Watford welcomes Welbeck – Another shot at the Premier League

Watford announced Danny Welbeck as their latest summer signing. The Hornets secured his services without paying a penny, meaning they’ve signed him on a free transfer.

Welbeck ended a five-year injury-ravaged spell at Arsenal. Despite playing for five years, Welbeck could only manage 132 appearances in an Arsenal shirt. His goal tally is quite embarrassing as he managed only 32 goals.

Watford have handed him a Premier League lifeline. The former Arsenal and Manchester United forward could re-kindle his lost spark at Vicarage road. If he can put his injury woes aside, he will provide natural goal threat and pace in the attack.

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Under Javi Gracia

Under Javi Gracia, Welbeck’s speed could be his most lethal weapon. Watford are one of the fastest counter-attacking sides, players like Gerard Deulofeu can run through the pitch in a flash.

Gracia employs a 4-2-2-2 formation and Welbeck could partner up-front with club captain Troy Deeney. This could perfectly suit Welbeck; Welbeck isn’t a player who could withstand the weight of the goalscoring duty alone.

He needs a player beside him to enhance his game; Troy Deeney could serve that role. Deeney’s experience and instincts add up to Welbeck’s pace and flair making them more impactful together.

Where would Danny Welbeck fit

Danny Welbeck could also play as a winger. Watford houses Deulofeu and Robert Pereyra at the wings. Both of them are speedsters and are masters of evading defenders with fancy trickery.

However, for most of the last season, Deulofeu partnered Deeney as a striker. So if Gracia doesn’t want to disturb the equilibrium between the two D’s, he may play Danny on the wing.

The arrival of Welbeck has also unfolded the possibilities of altering the formation. Gracia could play a 4-3-3 with Deeney, Pereyra, and Deulofeu starting as the front three, and Welbeck coming on as a super substitute.

The Englishman also has the capability to support the attack and play short passes in the build-up to the attack. He is not famous for holding the ball, that’s because he is not as burly as Romelu Lukaku or Alexandre Lacazette but his positional intelligence makes up for that.

At 28, Welbeck should have been at the peak of his career, but injuries have led to the fracturing of his mentality, eventually causing his downfall. Watford have given him the chance to make amends to his footballing career, but to prosper at Vicarage road he must remain injury-free and most importantly have a positive mindset.