Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Danny Welbeck’s last stand

Arsenal will likely deploy Danny Welbeck in the same capacity that he is always used against Bournemouth, but is this his last chance to step up?

Arsenal has had to run with some questionable attacks to start the season, due in part to Alexis Sanchez‘s questionable status and Arsene Wenger‘s questionable tactics. Through it all, they have yet to start Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott, the latter of which makes sense, the former of which seems unjust.

Through it all. Through the questions and the possibilities, Danny Welbeck, of all people, has started each and every game.

After his crucial goal against Leicester City on opening day, some might have thought that he had turned that corner yet again, but this is Danny Welbeck, who has been trying to turn the corner and become a viable striker for the past eight years. It just hasn’t happened.

Every so often he procures a brilliant heroic goal but then it’s ten matches before you see it again.

Welbeck has his perks. He is a tremendously hard worker who has all the physical abilities you could every want from a front man. But the inability to score will always hamper his practicality as well as his ceiling.

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With Alexis Sanchez likely missing the upcoming Bournemouth match today, it will likely fall on Welbeck to impress again in what may damn well be his last chance as a starter this season, barring any injuries or sudden changes.

If he is unable to prove much of anything, I should say that it should be his last start. At least for quite some time.

Which is what makes this potentially exciting. Internal competition is what makes teams and players better on all fronts. Having the right kind of athletes competing against each other brings out their best.

Welbeck has to know that he is the one to make way when Alexis is back. And with that knowledge, and the work ethic that he has, he also has to know that if he doesn’t do something special against Bournemouth, he will be relegated to the bench, where he will be sitting behind Giroud in the pecking order (at least he better be).

That can be quite the switch. Especially as Wenger already has trouble sitting either Ozil or Alexis.

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There is so much potential still bottled up inside Welbeck that it’s hard to ever completely lose hope in what he may yet become. But the patience is wearing thin. Bournemouth is a team that Welbeck should have a field day against, but actually doing it is another thing entirely.