Arsenal
Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck: The Marriage Might Be Rocky But The Sex Can Be Awesome
The clock had struck 11, deadline day was over. Another window which had provided us with spectacular signings and shock moves. It was though almost inevitably tense for Arsenal fans throughout the day who, after the injury to Oliver Giroud piled pressure onto Arsene Wenger to purchase a new forward. It wasn’t until after deadline day had officially finished that Arsenal fans got their wish and Wenger struck to pinch Danny Welbeck off arch rivals Manchester United. Initially for the Gunners faithful, it was a move that was to say the least underwhelming and a big risk. But having had time to let it sink in, have Arsenal and Arsene Wenger taken the right gamble and can Welbeck be a success for the Emirates outfit?
Welbeck has the abilities to shine for the Emirates faithful
Danny Welbeck is a hard working grafter; he’s quick, strong and technically gifted and will no doubt bring a threat to the Arsenal frontline. He won’t surprise anybody with an abundance of skill or grace but for the price of £16 million, Arsene Wenger may well think he’s got a bit of a bargain. The main problem that many United fans had with Welbeck was his lack of composure in front of goal, believing that if he added that to his game he had the potential to be world class.
Also Read: Arsenal’s latest team news and injury update ahead of the Man City clash
The game against Switzerland showed that he may well have improved that aspect of his game and is able to push on and fulfil his potential in an Arsenal shirt. Another criticism would be that he performs only for his country, his statistics for United in comparison to that of the national side are poor but this could be down to a lot of reasons. He was constantly played out of position at United and was rarely given the opportunity to show his prowess in the lone forward position, a chance that he will surely be given at Arsenal after an impressive display against Switzerland last night.
Was it the right gamble though from Wenger? Earlier in the transfer window Wenger had the opportunity to sign maverick Italian forward Mario Balotelli but turned it down mainly due to his obsession with the ridiculous. But also Giroud wasn’t injured and he felt he had suitable cover in the forward position. It could though have been the wrong decision; Balotelli is the more gifted individual technically and has a better goal scoring record than Welbeck.
Basically if you judged a player on just their ability on the pitch rather than the off field antics then Balotelli would have been a better signing and would be worth twice as much. In fact despite moving on from one club to another regularly throughout his career Balotelli’s record is very good and has proved himself as a goal scorer in 2 of Europe’s top leagues, he’s an out and out striker and would have been just what Arsenal needed but instead he went to Liverpool and for 16 million and it could well prove to be a steal for Brendan Rodgers and his side.
His international record is impressive and perhaps he feels that it is because he is given regular game time by Hodgson and has been able to have the opportunity to flourish, a chance that he was not really given by United. He was informed earlier in the week before the signing that he would be 5th choice striker at United behind Van Persie, Falcao, Rooney and youngster James Wilson who United have high hopes for in the future. But many United fans have reacted angrily to the sale including former united assistant manager Mike Phelan who said that United have “lost their identity” with the sale, a sale which United fans believe to have strengthened their rivals in the race for top 4 and even perhaps the title.
But then again there is the argument that being United’s apparent 5th choice striker, the sale isn’t that big of a deal and they are practically selling their weakest forward to lead Arsenal’s front line for the rest of the season while United have better players leading theirs. There is no doubt now that with the calibre of United’s front line and midfield they should be minimum finishing in the champions league spots this season. Anything less is an embarrassment and Van Gaal would fear for his job, but he insists it’s a long term project and any possibility of them challenging for the title this season is false.
Wenger knows best
In many ways this is a classic Wenger signing, like many others in the past Wenger has signed Welbeck is a hard working player with solid attributes but he’s someone that needs work in many areas if he is to become a key player in this Arsenal side. A similar signing would be that of Thierry Henry signed for a similar fee in 1999 and was struggling in a Juventus side that favoured to play him out wide and this was if he got into the side, he found it tough to get game time and moved to Arsenal looking for guidance under his former manager at Monaco Arsene Wenger.
Wenger deployed him down the middle in his first game for the club and the rest as they say is history. Henry is Welbeck’s ‘hero’ and was a big inspiration for him growing up, if Wenger gives him regular first team football and plays him down the middle could Welbeck achieve what Henry achieved and give this Arsenal side the missing ingredient that they are missing?
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Arsenal Dragon
Experienced Vet Wins Arsenal Women’s October Player of the Month After Breaking Goal Drought
Beth Mead has been named Arsenal Women’s Player of the Month for October after ending her goalless run with a crucial strike in the Champions League victory over Benfica. The England winger secured 56% of supporter votes, comfortably ahead of Mariona Caldentey in second place and Kim Little in third.
First Goal of the Season Breaks the Deadlock
Mead’s drought-ending goal arrived in Arsenal’s 2-0 Champions League victory at Benfica, pouncing on defensive hesitation inside the penalty area to open scoring and set the Gunners on course for their first win in the competition this season. The strike came at a crucial moment as Arsenal sought to bounce back from their opening defeat to Lyon.
Her goal demonstrated the predatory instincts that made her one of England’s most dangerous attackers, capitalizing on mistakes with razor-sharp reactions inside the box. While she hadn’t found the net earlier in the campaign, her overall contributions remained valuable through work rate and creative output.
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Rotation Role Continues Under Slegers
Mead featured in all four Arsenal matches during October, starting twice and coming off the bench twice against Brighton and Manchester City in WSL action. Renee Slegers has managed her minutes carefully, balancing Mead’s experience with the need to rotate attacking options across multiple competitions.
The 29-year-old’s return to form arrives at the perfect time as Arsenal prepare for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Her ability to deliver in Europe’s premier competition could prove decisive as Arsenal chase qualification for the knockout rounds while maintaining their domestic title challenge.
Winning October’s award provides momentum heading into a congested November schedule that includes crucial fixtures against Chelsea and Bayern Munich, where Mead’s big-game experience will be vital for Arsenal’s ambitions on multiple fronts.
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Arsenal Dragon
Katie Reid Injury Explained: How Long Will The Teenage Sensation Be Out for Arsenal Women?
Arsenal Women have confirmed their worst fears—Katie Reid has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during training, ending the 19-year-old defender’s breakthrough season just months after earning her first England senior call-up. The injury represents a devastating blow for both Reid personally and Arsenal’s title ambitions.
The Injury Timeline and Recovery Process
Reid sustained the ACL rupture in training last week, forcing Arsenal to confirm the news publicly after initial scans revealed the extent of the damage. She’s expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign, with Arsenal targeting a return for the 2026-27 season.
ACL injuries typically require 9-12 months of rehabilitation before players can return to competitive action. Reid faces surgery first, followed by extensive physiotherapy focusing on regaining knee stability, strength, and confidence performing the explosive movements central to elite football. Arsenal’s medical staff will monitor her progress closely, though rushing recovery risks re-injury or long-term complications.
Her absence creates immediate defensive problems. Reid had displaced Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina in the pecking order following Leah Williamson’s knee surgery earlier this season, earning widespread praise for her composure and maturity beyond her teenage years. Losing Reid forces Arsenal to rely on depth options who haven’t matched her consistency.
Arsenal’s Growing ACL Crisis
Reid becomes Arsenal’s third ACL casualty this season, highlighting a concerning pattern that demands investigation. Goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger suffered the same injury in training earlier in the campaign, ruling her out for the remainder of the season. Michelle Agyemang ruptured her ACL while on England international duty, completing an unprecedented injury crisis affecting Arsenal’s squad depth.
Three ACL injuries to one squad within months suggests potential issues with training loads, pitch conditions, or strength-and-conditioning protocols that Arsenal must address urgently. While ACL ruptures can occur randomly, the clustering raises legitimate questions about whether preventable factors contributed to this epidemic.
Reid had withdrawn from England duty last month with a groin issue before making a late substitute appearance in Arsenal’s 4-1 victory over Leicester. Days later, training brought the devastating knee injury that’s now derailed her momentum. Her rapid rise from academy prospect to first-team regular and England international has been halted cruelly just as she established herself among Europe’s most promising young defenders.
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Arsenal Dragon
Arsenal Legend Slams “Phantom Handball” Decision: WSL Not Ready for VAR Until Referees Go Professional
Ian Wright delivered a scathing assessment of officiating standards during Arsenal Women’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, calling Stina Blackstenius’ disallowed goal a “phantom handball” and “the hand of god that only the referee saw.” The Arsenal legend argued that the WSL must prioritize professionalizing referees before introducing VAR technology.
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Professional Referees First, VAR Second
Speaking on the Crossways podcast with Steph Houghton, Wright rejected immediate VAR implementation despite both managers demanding its introduction. “Firstly, instead of bringing in VAR, we need to get referees professional before we go anywhere near VAR so they can ref the game and have confidence in what they are doing. Then, VAR helps them,” Wright stated.
His criticism centered on the referee’s inexplicable decision to chalk off Blackstenius’ goal for handball when replays showed no contact whatsoever. Houghton noted Lucy Bronze’s reaction was telling—”nobody flinched” when the ball hit the net, suggesting even Chelsea players recognized the goal’s legitimacy before the referee intervened.
Wright suggested Italian football’s trial of manager VAR challenges could provide a solution. “If I got to see that incident with just a television screen and a different angle, I would be able to say to the referee in 30 seconds, she didn’t touch it with her hand. That game is too big for the referees and officials to be that definite about an incident.”
Infrastructure Barriers Block VAR Implementation
Both Wright and Houghton agreed the WSL lacks necessary infrastructure for VAR rollout. Wright highlighted practical obstacles: “You can’t be putting VAR equipment at Tottenham at Brisbane Road. You have also got West Ham playing at Dagenham and Brighton at Crawley. The infrastructure is not there for it.”
Arsenal were denied three legitimate goals during Saturday’s draw—Blackstenius’ phantom handball, Frida Maanum’s questionable offside, and Alessia Russo’s strike that stood despite offside debates. Sky Sports pundit Izzy Christiansen claimed Arsenal were “robbed,” while Wright insisted Chelsea were fortunate not to lose 3-1.
The controversy could prove decisive in the title race, with Arsenal remaining five points behind Chelsea after dropping two points through officiating incompetence.
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