With the imminent North London Derby coming up on Saturday morning, there will be much debate about which Arsenal players should be starting this crucial game on St Totteringham’s Day. We are all hopeful that Alexis Sanchez will return to the side, but the latest injury news is suggesting that Danny Welbeck will also be returning to the squad.
Olivier Giroud was taken off the field against Aston Villa as a “cautionary move” according to Arsene Wenger, but anyone who watched his replacement Chuba Akpom, trying his damnest to get on the scoresheet could not have helped being impressed by his determination and positioning in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch.
The latest news is that Akpom is close to signing a new deal with the Gunners, despite interest from top clubs like Liverpool and Dortmund, and I don’t believe that this would have happened unless Arsene Wenger had promised the academy youngster more first team chances to persuade him to stay.
But will Danny Welbeck’s return to the squad now impede Akpom’s chances of taking the field? Wenger clearly said that the ex-Man United man will be back for Spurs. Le Prof said just before the Aston Villa game: “Welbeck is very close. He is really, really, really nearly there. He will be available for the Tottenham game. He will join in full training on Monday.”
So let’s imagine that neither Alexis NOR Giroud is considered fit enough to face Tottenham, and Wenger is faced with a choice of starting either Welbeck or Akpom. Given that Danny has been out of action for the last five weeks, I personally think that Akpom should be given the nod over Welbeck as first choice, or as first substitute if Giroud is fit.
What do you think?