Arsenal: Danny Welbeck Risk Not Worth The Reward

Arsenal is nearing a full health squad, which means that Danny Welbeck is back. That being said, the risk is not worth the reward against Crystal Palace.

It’s always the final test for an injured player. When they are back in full training, they are ready to go. Well, Danny Welbeck is back in full Arsenal training and, as such, he is ready to go. Which is pretty cool, given what he could bring to this side, both in the starting XI and in a pinch late in games.

Related: 10 Things We Learned About Arsenal In 2016

However, against Crystal Palace, the risk of overusing Danny Welbeck is not worth the reward. Palace is stinking up the Premier League and while Sam Allardyce will in all likelihood turn that around, it is a work in progress and not an overnight deal. This is still going to be a battered Palace when we face them today.

That doesn’t mean we can take them lightly – no one in the Premier League can be taken lightly – but it does mean that we should be comfortable with the match-up at hand.

So comfortable, in fact, that Welbeck should absolutely not be used in any sort of high-pressure situation. A relapse would bet horrible and I’ve been following Wilshere, Ramsey and the Ox for too long to write off setbacks as an impossibility. They are very real. So real that they may even be more likely than staying healthy (this is what Arsenal has done to me).

Welbeck should not be needed against Palace. And if we get to a point where we do need reinforcements at the end and we need a spirited injection, then Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is healthy too and he deserves it more anyway.

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

Or, if the Ox is starting, that means Giroud isn’t and Giroud should be brought on.

Or Ramsey.

The point is, Welbeck shouldn’t be leaned upon in any capacity. I don’t think that he will be, but this is just a reminder to anyone with a crazy notion that Welbeck should be the fire in our engine (is that a good thing?). He shouldn’t be!

I am all for giving him a run out when Arsenal are inevitably up 3-0 in the 80th minute. Let him trot around, getting a standing ovation and feel really good about himself. But don’t put him on when it’s 1-1 in the 80th and we need a dose of inspiration.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

Please and thank you.