We will find out in the next 72 hours the seriousness of Danny Welbeck’s injury, but the fear is he could be out for the season. That will coincide with his contract running out, a deal that wasn’t guaranteed to be extended anyway.
Danny Welbeck
Significant right ankle injury. Danny remains in hospital and will continue to be assessed. A further update will be issued over the next 72 hours.
Believed to be one of the most popular characters in the dressing room, there’s a possibility he’s played for Arsenal for the last time. It sums up his gunners’ career, he’s never been able to get a consistent run in the squad, always having a spell on the side-lines. I believe the striker would have had to have made a hard choice next summer regardless. Does he stay where he would have a chance of adding to his medal collection or does he sacrifice winning things for the sake of starting each week?
Unai Emery will no doubt be ruthless like he was with Jack Wilshere and be honest about his chances of making the first team. With an offer retracted for Ramsey, the board wouldn’t pay over the odds to keep the England International, any salary might be a case of take it or leave it.
In the case of Diaby, Rosiscky, Cazorla, etc we have always been a family club who look after our talent, we won’t look at him as an asset with zero value. Even if we gambled on him finding his fitness, as part of his recovery it might not suit him to be playing the odd cup game every couple of weeks. This setback might change his outlook, a young man who might not want to miss anymore game time.
We took a gamble by not replacing Walcott or Giroud, decent senior players to have on the bench. It was a risk to assume Welbeck was going to stay healthy. This could see Eddie Nketiah promoted to back up striker or a replacement to be brought in January. The positive news is our fringe players have got us through to the next stage of the Europa League, meaning Europe is not a factor now until February.
So gooners is that the end for Welbeck or would you still offer him a new deal?
Dan Smith