Arsenal: Could Eddie Nketiah offset Danny Welbeck departure?

With Danny Welbeck’s Arsenal future in doubt, young phenom Eddie Nketiah could be tasked with easing the burden of his departure.

In recent weeks, I have come to appreciate Danny Welbeck‘s value as Arsenal’s third-choice striker. He scored ten goals in all competitions last season and is on course to reach double figures again this season.

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As my colleague Andrew Dowdeswell noted in a recent article, ‘having two goalscorers, in the modern game, is not enough’. It was a principle that Sir Alex Ferguson swore by during his distinguished tenure at Manchester United.

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In Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal have a prolific goalscoring pair, one of the best in the Premier League. But Welbeck gives them a supplementary goal threat that should not be overlooked.

However, Welbeck’s future at the club is in doubt. The England international is in the final year of his contract and there is supposedly no new deal in sight. Once again, Arsenal have found themselves in a contract debacle. Welbeck may feel inclined to leave for pastures new so that he can better compete for a starting spot, something he’s unlikely to get at the Emirates with both Lacazette and Aubameyang ahead of him in the pecking order. That being said, Welbeck is not an elite finisher, has a long injury history, and has excelled in a reserve role over the past couple of seasons. Perhaps he is best suited in a reserve role, such that his injury-prone body is not pushed to the limit and his finishing deficiencies and lack of cutting-edge quality is not so badly exposed.

In an ideal world, Welbeck would sign a new deal. If he were to leave, Eddie Nketiah would be his likely replacement as the third-choice striker. Although supplementary goalscorers are incredibly valuable, this team has too many needs to spend lavishly on another striker.

Nketiah enjoyed his breakout against Norwich City last season, but he has been unable to truly establish himself in the first-team since then — the two goals that he scored to rescue Arsenal in that match are still, to this day, the only two goals that he has scored for the senior side, and he has not played a minute yet this season.

Nketiah does not possess Welbeck’s physicality or versatility, but he has been a goal machine for the academy and the U23s. He is unproven at the senior level, but he must be given opportunities — in competitions such as the Europa League and the Carabao Cup — to show that he is capable of replicating Welbeck’s goal output.

The argument as to whether or not a young player should be given a chance is difficult, as each player is unique. However, Nketiah has been highly touted for a while. It could well be time for Unai Emery to give him the opportunities that he needs, and Welbeck’s exit might just the push that is required.