Arsenal: Danny Welbeck Chipping Away At Striker Monopoly

Arsenal may finally be seeing their No. 2 striker role be filled, slowly but surely. Danny Welbeck is chipping away and become a legitimate threat to Olivier Giroud.

Given the situation Arsenal was in, Danny Welbeck returned from injury being heralded as the messiah. His return was built up to be one of the biggest moments of the season. All in spite of Welbeck’s proven inconsistency and inability to score in the past.

It was a combination of just needing something new and knowing Welbeck’s potential. Arsenal was in a stale run where goals were a luxury but they did not have any options. They couldn’t pull a switcheroo to see something new because there was no one to switch. By that token, it makes sense that Welbeck would be seen in such a positive light.

Olivier Giroud is a fantastic striker but everyone scuttles from time to time and when he does, Arsenal do too. They have to ride out the storm with the big Frenchman because there is nothing else they can do.

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That trend could potentially be ending, if Wenger will let it.

Welbeck’s initial return was as a sub against Leicester City. I don’t think I need to remind anyone of what happened, but it’s still fun to think about. Welbeck saved Arsenal’s season on the very last play of the game by flicking his head and deviating the path of the ball by an inch. Just like that, Arsenal’s title charge was back on.

He was then handed a start against Hull City – albeit on the left wing. It was incredibly frustrating to see him given the shaft from striker despite what he did against Leicester because clearly Walcott didn’t do anything with it.

And then, he was brought on against Barcelona for twenty minutes. With just ten touches, he impressed.

This would not be the first time that Arsenal has witnessed someone come back stronger from an injury than they were before. It happened to Ozil, Giroud and Ramsey and it may very well be happening to Welbeck too. Wenger pointed out (as quoted by the Metro) that “the best is to come from [Welbeck]”.