With Alexandre Lacazette recovering from knee surgery and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible to play in the Europa League, Danny Welbeck got the nod against Östersunds FK and he did not impress.
As a human being, Welbz is generally liked by Arsenal fans. The 27-year-old seems like a nice enough bloke.
As a player though, Gooners are beginning to reach the end of their tether when it comes to the striker’s lacklustre displays.
This season, he’s scored just five goals and provided one assist in 24 appearances.
Welbeck was Arsenal’s only proper choice up front against Östersunds FK on Thursday. Arsene Wenger could have picked Eddie Nketiah, which fans wanted him to do, but the Europa League is of the team’s only chances at silverware this term. It’s understandable that the boss went with the more experienced option.
Over the course of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over the Swedish side, Welbeck had three shots. Two were off target and one was blocked. He completed 92% of his passes, won two area duels and 50% of his tackles.
Welbeck was dispossessed half as many times (2) as Ainsley Maitland-Niles (4), but was wasteful and, as annoying as it is when Wenger harps on about it, Welbz really is missing that ‘cutting edge’.
If he struggled to create anything against Östersunds FK, does he really have a future in Arsenal’s Premier League squad?
Overall, the ex-Manchester United forward had a disappointing evening and Arsenal fans on Twitter certainly weren’t holding back.
Welbeck would miss his own wedding.
— Mike Sanz (@mikesanz19) February 15, 2018
This Welbeck guy man
— The Peoples Champion (@TroopzAFC) February 15, 2018
He’s honestly so displeasing the man is TWENTY-SEVEN he should be in his prime and he can’t dribble properly at his big age 🤦♂️😩😩😩😢
— Dribs (@Dribs__) February 15, 2018
How about we leave Welbeck in Sweden and bring that Ghoddos fella from Östersunds on a plane back to London instead??
— P¹⁸ (@RedLacazette9) February 15, 2018
Would happily never see Welbeck again
— S (@wood10_) February 15, 2018
Can we just let him run the snapchat and not play….?
— Mike (@MikeH0llister) February 15, 2018
I think we saw a prime example of why big Weng was considering the false 9 tonight. Hardly a performance of someone playing for their future. If he truly rejected a new deal I think we should thank our lucky stars.
— J.W. (@Jack_DoubleU_) February 15, 2018
Welbeck should be at West Brom not Arsenal.
— Osman (@OsmanZtheGooner) February 15, 2018
I’d trade Welbz for Saman Ghoddos in Östersund in a straight swap 24-7
— SwedeArse (@swede_Arse) February 15, 2018
I’m telling you bro…bring back our giroud and take welbeck
— €mm¥ Kool (@OshabaEmmanuel) February 16, 2018
Sanogo was far better for us than Welbeck.
— LeGOATJames (@ArtizanOzil) February 16, 2018
Welbeck’s performance yesterday is top 5 worst performance by an Arsenal player on the last decade. Shameful
— LeGOATJames (@ArtizanOzil) February 16, 2018
Quite telling that Welbeck was not able to do anything productive against Ostersund
— Ronak Parekh (@amigooner) February 16, 2018
Welbeck is possibly one of our shittest players of the past 8 years. Apart from a few goals vs Leicester and United, he's done nothing
— Elokobi Bryant (@Bonne2TheFuture) February 16, 2018