Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: What to do with Danny Welbeck

Arsenal should be welcoming back Danny Welbeck for the North London Derby, but this is not as clear a situation as it seems. What do we do with the Englishman?

Danny Welbeck is back in the mix for Arsenal, as he only has to pass a fitness test prior to the all-important North London Derby. This seemingly couldn’t have come at a better time. Both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were flat as steamrolled bread (I can do better…) against Manchester City and a game against Spurs is equally high-profile.

Meaning it is equally likely that they come out just as flat. Alexis gave up the ball something like 15 times and Ozil did not create a single chance. All progress the Gunners made came from Aaron Ramsey and the late addition of Alexandre Lacazette.

Not a positive situation. So, throwing Welbeck back into the mix, it would make total sense, on the surface, to toss him in there and let him replace either one of our detrimental superstars, but not even I am sure this is the best option.

Welbeck has been hurt twice now this year. And while he has yet to have a poor performance to his name, in this case, I subscribe to Arsene Wenger’s need to protect players.

Protect Danny Welbeck. He is going to be needed this year, especially given the potential January exits of the two guys he can replace. He can’t do that if he is less than healthy every time he takes the pitch and re-injures himself because Danny Welbeck only has one play setting – hard.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Not just that, but with Olivier Giroud out and my dream of Eddie Nketiah being relied on not likely at all, it’s important to have a high-impact player coming off the bench. Alexis and Ozil are not high-impact players and I would not want them to be a difference maker late in a game when we need to deliver a punch.

Welbeck, however, is a living, breathing punch and I’d much rather prefer him coming on, facing a weary defense. And then he gets a bit of match fitness without having to play an exorbitant amount of minutes and risking another injury.

Not that we will need his heroics anyway, as this game will be well in hand by the time we’d even turn to Welbeck to bail us out.

Next: 5 Key Players To Watch vs Tottenham

Which means that we may just have to cope with another match with Ozil and Alexis starting, because, while Wenger will sit one superstar in Alexandre Lacazette, I can’t see him sitting the two guys that I guess he is still trying to convince to stay.

Home/Arsenal News