Arsenal: Danny Welbeck another beneficiary of Emery regime

Arsenal have a crop of strikers, that’s for sure, and strangely enough, it’s all so well-distributed that Danny Welbeck has a cozy spot on the team still.

When the season began, the copious amount of attackers on the team left the question of just how Arsenal were going to manage to distribute playing time. Alexandre Lacazette wasn’t even starting at the beginning of the year, so that surely meant that the likes of Danny Welbeck were done for.

But the season’s narrative has played out quite differently. Namely, Welbeck has found himself in a pretty solid position where he can have a big role to play in the club, both now and going forward.

This comes a lot from Unai Emery’s generous and no-b.s. substitution policy, as well as his knack for making changes based on who is playing well, and not based on blind faith or emotion.

One of the primary constituents to Welbeck’s continued relevance is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the winner of Arsenal’s player of the month for October.

The stats have emerged, showing that Aubameyang scored all of five goals this month, but that isn’t the remarkable part (although that is pretty remarkable). What is remarkable is that he only played about half of the available minutes.

And who is then primary beneficiary of all those missing minutes? Other attacks. Whoever steps up and claims them. Danny Welbeck has been one such beneficiary, finding himself with plenty of chances to step in and assert himself.

Which he has been doing.

All in all, Welbeck played 340 minutes. Compare that to the 225 played by Aubameyang and yes, Welbeck actually did play more. Granted, Aubameyang had a niggling sickness at the start, but still. Welbeck isn’t getting those minutes because Unai Emery owes him anything. He’s getting them because he has capitalized on his chances.

And while he only has one goal and one assist to show for that large chunk of minutes, his impact is well seen. I think back to Crystal Palace, where he didn’t score or assist, but his influence was apparent right from his introduction, as his drive from deep was dangerous and could well have turned into something.

There are few things more enjoyable than a fit and firing Welbeck, and with the current approach that Emery is taking, he is always giving Welbeck that chance to start a tear, which I do believe we are due for at any minute.