Arsenal: Danny Welbeck’s season of deception continues

It’s hard to anticipate what Danny Welbeck will do on any given appearance with Arsenal, but on the whole, there is little room to argue.

Like a werewolf on a full moon night, Danny Welbeck assumed his Welbeast form against Southampton and accounted for all three Arsenal goals, scoring two and assisting on one. It was another one of those inexplicable matches where he did nearly everything right.

Both finishes, as well as his assist, required such a degree of either physical superiority or dexterity to out-do the opposition and in each of the three situations, he met the requirements and made it look pretty easy.

Danny Welbeck will continue to frustrate and excite. You literally never know what you are going to get out of him. His pure work rate is the baseline expectation, but everything around that is a question mark that can never be predicted.

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Some hypothesize that it’s just the injuries. Welbeck was in tremendous form at the start of the season, shooting out to three goals, which put him near the top of the early charts. Southampton was the last time he added to that tally in the Premier League.

In between that, however, was a serious injury and a return to the pitch that undoubtedly took some acclimation, which is a slower process when you’re primarily a sub.

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Alexandre Lacazette‘s untimely injury spotted Welbeck a few chances in the Europa League, but now, with him back, he is relying on injuries again to get back into the starting XI, this time to Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

None of these things point to a consistent performer, yet if you boil it down to the numbers, you may be surprised to find out that Welbeck is one of our top statistical performers thus far into the season.

As it stands, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is the most efficient goal producer for the club, scoring or assisting every 87 minutes. Mkhitaryan is just behind him, producing a goal or assist every 90 minutes. Then comes Aaron Ramsey, at every 130 minutes.

After that? Danny Welbeck, at every 141 minutes. Lacazette is right behind him at every 143 minutes, but the point remains the same – say what you will about Welbeck, but by the time this year ends, he may be one of our most effective goal producers in the Premier League.

Which, even given what I’ve seen from him this year, the hot and the cold, makes me wonder if he offers a lot more than we give him credit for.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Southampton

At the bare minimum, he is a squad player with tremendous upside, and that role can certainly not be undervalued.