Why Arsenal must offload Danny Welbeck in January
According to the Daily Mirror, Danny Welbeck has not been offered a new deal by Arsenal as he nears the end of his existing contract.
The 27-year-old is in the final year of his deal at the Emirates, meaning he can talk to foreign clubs from the new year. He’s in the same contract situation as midfielder Aaron Ramsey, whose deal also officially expires next summer.
Welbeck is enjoying a good run of form with four goals so far this season, as new manager Unai Emery continues to make a strong impression after guiding the Gunners to nine consecutive victories. Arsenal endured a torrid start to the new season with back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea but Emery has managed to put his team back on track.
The Gunners’ recent victory came at Fulham’s home on Sunday, where Welbeck started the game. And while Welbeck is in good form at the moment, he couldn’t repay the manager’s faith and lasted only 62 minutes at Craven Cottage.
Welbeck arrived at Arsenal for a fee of £16m from Manchester United in 2014. The England international was expected to unlock his true potential at Arsenal under the watchful eyes of former manager Arsene Wenger but almost five years since his transfer, he is yet to live up to the lofty expectations.
While Welbeck has proven to be a vital asset for the Gunners due to his versatility and effectiveness in the attack, he is not as prolific as regular strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, he still remains useful to the club due to his ability to play on either flank and through the middle. Since moving to the Emirates, the 27-year-old has often been used as an impact substitute.
However, truth to be told, Welbeck’s Arsenal career has been hampered by various injuries. Be it injuries or poor form, he remains far from one of the first names on the team-sheet under Emery. The 27-year-old has lacked ruthlessness in front of the goal. In fact, his tally of 4, 4, 2 and 5 goals in his last four Premier League seasons clearly suggest that he is not cut out to play for the Gunners.
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At the age of 27, Welbeck is in the prime years of his career and just cannot remain in the shadows of Aubameyang and Lacazette. Arsenal can certainly cope without Welbeck and they must offload the English forward in January.