I have been scratching my head recently about the decision by Arsene Wenger not to start with Theo Walcott in his Arsenal starting line-ups. After all, the England international forward has the speed of an exocet missile and has already showed his improved finishing since his return from injury.
But after Danny Welbeck had another good game today, winning the penalty for Santi Cazorla to give us an early lead away to Crystal Palace and then bursting into the box and forcing Speroni to parry into Giroud’s path for the crucial second, I am starting to understand.
Welbeck needs to improve his finishing, of that there is no doubt, but he does give the team so much more with his all-round game. Harrying, pressing, stretching defences, linking up play really well and also tracking back to help our defenders are great qualities.
And the way that Arsenal are now a lot harder to beat is because we have got players like that. Alexis Sanchez does it, Cazorla does it and even Ozil is doing it. Who would have thought at the start of the season that we would be saying that. It must be frustrating for Theo but he needs to realise that he must do a bit more of what Welbeck is doiung to get his place back and that can only be good for the Gunners.
And by picking Welbeck, Wenger is giving the striker the self confidence and belief that should help him to start banging more goals in himself. It is a win-win situation really, in my opinion. Has Wenger got it spot on or would you rather see him bring Walcott back in?