Arsenal: Time to willingly walk into Danny Welbeck trap again

Arsenal were bailed out by the heroics of Danny Welbeck and, honestly, I don’t care what history tells me. I’m banking on him being a superstar.

As an Arsenal fan, there are a lot of things that I know I shouldn’t do, but I do anyway. One of which is to consistently predict wins, no matter who we play. Another is to expect that any lead is safe. Still another is to feel confident that Jack Wilshere or Aaron Ramsey will never get hurt again.

But the most convincing trap, and the one that I am willingly allowing myself to walk into yet again, is the Danny Welbeck trap. It’s this belief that Welbeck can be so much more than he already is.

Against Southampton, Welbeck was on fire. He was a maniac. Everything he touched (aside from that one miss) turned to gold.

Against CSKA Moscow, he did a bit less and, in turn, far more.

Alexi Lalas said it best (as much as I hate to admit it). Arsenal needed someone to step up (how many times have we said that?). They were 2-0 down and on the ropes and they needed someone – anyone – to say “enough is enough, I’m going to put this tie to bed.”

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It wasn’t Ramsey or Mesut Ozil. It was Danny Welbeck. Danny Welbeck instigated a play that I could watch on loop for a week straight. He made a beautiful turn, continued his run, found the throughball from Mohamed Elneny and slotted home masterfully to give the Gunners the only goal they really needed.

That wasn’t all he did though. Throughout the match, he was creating chances, he was pushing the team forward, he was using his speed to create space, something apparently no one else can do.

Danny Welbeck was a superstar. And that makes it two matches in a row now where he has been everything we ever dreamed he could be.

Of course, every time that dreams seeps into our minds (and it has happened so many times before), it is soon after crushed and obliterated. Sometimes by injury, sometimes by godawful performances that seem completely nonsensical.

Recently, we have relegated Welbeck to a consensus “squad player” with upside. But what if – just what if – injuries have truly been the only problem. And if he can stay healthy, same as Ramsey, then he can become the player we have seen these past two matches.

Next: Arsenal vs CSKA Moscow Player Ratings

Is that so crazy to believe in? Don’t answer that. I know it is, I just want to be blind for a little while longer.

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