Olivier Giroud scored his 100th Arsenal goal against BATE in the Europa League, after starting every Group game for the Gunners, but now that Danny Welbeck is back from injury and he is set to start tonight’s game in Cologne at the expense of the Frenchman.
Olli has been recast as Arsenal’s supersub since the arrival of Laca, coming on late and generally scoring, but back at the start of the season when Welbeck was fit to play, Giroud was still left on the bench. It is possible that Wenger is just playing Welbeck tonight to give him some match fitness before returning to our Premier League starting XI, which would mean that Olli could return to the Europa League side for the rest of the campaign.
Arsene Wenger made it clear that Welbeck should be a certainty to go to the World Cup with England, but he needs to be playing first-team football regularly, and most importantly stay fit as well. Le Prof said: “Danny has the potential to go. If he is fit, he will go. I am convinced of that.
“It is a big year for him but I want it to be a big year for him for Arsenal. Because a consequence of that… the best way to go to the World Cup is not to think ‘I have to prepare for the World Cup’, it is to do well for your club and after you automatically are in the national team.”
This can only mean that Welbeck is expected to slot back into the Premier League squad, but with Lacazette, Ozil and Alexis fit, I can only see Welbeck becoming our 70th minute substitution which will negate any chance of Giroud playing his usual role of supersub.
How will Wenger endeavour to jkeep them both happy and make sure they both get game time to impress their national team bosses?
Admin