%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
5 Reasons to be excited about Danny Welbeck’s Arsenal return
By Josh Sippie
Danny Welbeck is befuddling. When you watch him play, you can only assume that he is a class striker that opposing defenses have to prepare for. He is like a human mixed with a gazelle mixed with a toothless jaguar.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
He has tremendous pace and employs the same tactics as the Ox, tapping the ball around the defense and brushing around them, winning just about every foot race he enters. That is the gazelle part.
He plays the game with tremendous vigor, as his defensive contribution stands up to Alexis’s. Last season he averaged a tackle and a half and over an interception a match (via WhoScored). That is not normal for a forward, but in Arsene Wenger’s system, he is getting his work in. That is the human part.
Danny Welbeck also exudes strength. He won 45% of his aerial duels last campaign and 56% of his take-ons (via Squawka). Again, those are really good numbers, particularly coming from a forward. That is the jaguar part.
All that being said, Danny Welbeck has tremendous trouble finding the net. Danny Welbeck took 58 shots last season with a shot accuracy of 53%. That in an of itself is a little skeptical but add to it that he scored only 4 EPL goals and we have a major brow-raiser. That is the toothless part.
More from Arsenal News
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Welbeck had the obscene habit of skying the ball or shooting it straight into the grateful arms of the keeper. Neither of which is a desirable outcome in a sport that requires goals.
To make matters worse, our English forward has been out since April with a knee problem that now requires an operation that will keep him out another month. Tough beans.
However, despite the frustration, Arsenal supporters should be excited about Danny Welbeck’s return, whenever that may be, and here is why.
Next: Manchester Who?