Arsenal Vs Southampton: This is the Danny Welbeck role

Danny Welbeck scored two crucial goals in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday afternoon. He is beginning to find his perfect role in this squad.

Danny Welbeck is an extremely frustrating player. The striker has all the natural tools that you would want — quick, strong, athletic, intelligent, aware, technically sound, creative. But when it comes to actually producing, he has never quite delivered as his talent would suggest he should. For Arsenal, many have seen this is problematic.

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To some extent, they are absolutely right. It is a little underwhelming that Welbeck never quite lives up to his billing. But perhaps the problem for him is that his billing has been dictated not by his on-pitch quality, but his off-pitch potential, something that is now no longer attainable and somewhat distorting.

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Welbeck needs a defined role that is not beyond his capabilities, and by capabilities, I do not mean what he is potentially capable of but, at 27, what he has proven he is capable of. Thankfully, in recent weeks, I believe that role has come to the fore for the striker, first in the two legs against AC Milan in the Europa League and now in the 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday.

Against Milan, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup-tied and Alexandre Lacazette absent through injury, Welbeck was called upon to lead the Arsenal line. He did so admirably. He worked tirelessly, especially in the away leg, ran the channels relentlessly, stretching the pitch and providing space for the midfielders behind him, while also providing a focal point that the play could work off of.

And against Southampton, Welbeck was shifted into a wide-left role, though he was afforded the license to swap positions with Aubameyang. In this inside-forward position, Welbeck found great joy. Both of his goals, for instance, are prime examples of how he can flourish in a goal-scoring wide role.

This, for me, is what Welbeck has required all these years. An understanding of what he brings to the team, a working knowledge of how to get the best out of him, and a strong relationship between role and production, knowing what is expected of him tactically and contribution wise. And that is what he now has.

Welbeck is expected to be flexible depth cover for the front three positions. He is expected to score around 15 goals a season in all competitions, provide an element of pace and dynamism in wide areas and a spearheading presence through the middle. This is his role.

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It is in this role that he flourished on Sunday; it is in this role that he will flourish moving forwards. Long may it continue.