Arsenal: Time to stress about Danny Welbeck, of all people

Arsenal are in a transitional state, where we don’t know who is destined to stay and who’s not. But Danny Welbeck has had his case reviewed, and it’s obvious.

There have been many a mean thing said about Danny Welbeck over his time at Arsenal, but no one could ever fault his work ethic. They could, however, fault his inability to finish, his surprising clumsiness, his lack of dexterity and his stone-footed first touch.

How such a physical specimen could fall so short in these key areas was bewildering, frustrating and all manner of adjectives.

Yet, the underlying argument was that he couldn’t stay healthy. I, myself, doubted this argument at times, but the more Welbeck plays, the better he is. There is no hiding from that anymore. These past few months he hasn’t just been handed playing time because there is no one else, he has earned it. He has earned the hell out of it.

Not just with goals and hard stats, but with his ability to instigate. That turn against CSKA Moscow, which was replicated against West Ham, was a thing of beauty and it’s near impossible to defend against.

And now he has a wicked shot too?

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Although, let’s be honest. Welbeck has had these things before, he’s just been too inconsistently utilized, due largely to injuries, to make them a regular part of his game.

It seems to be getting more obvious now, however, that Welbeck has so, so much to offer this club in so many different capacities. And not a moment too soon, because his contract is up at the end of next year, same as Aaron Ramsey, which means we have yet another thing to stress about this summer.

As it stands, I would hate, hate, hate to see Welbeck leave the club. You don’t find what he offers all that readily on the transfer market, and when you think of the £16m we paid for him, you certain’y can’t replicate what he brings with that fee.

Welbeck is making himself and his quality made clearly known. He has asserted that he belongs, now it is up to the Gunners to lock down what is working for the long haul, just like they did Mesut Ozil. It feels strange to say, but Welbeck is working, and he needs to be a part of this club’s future.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against West Ham

It’s amazing how far a player can come in such a short time period, but Welbeck has done it. I’ll check any lingering doubts at the door, because he is Arsenal quality through and through.

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