Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is forced into making one change from his attack ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United due to the knee injury suffered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he may be considering another shakeup due to the poor form of striker Olivier Giroud.
The French international has gone eight games in all competitions without a goal for the Londoners, and it’s seen Arsenal scoring only six times and registering three wins. Wenger has been outspoken in his criticism for his side missing so many chances in games, and ahead of a crucial league clash he may consider an alternate option to spearhead the attack.
Danny Welbeck has only recent returned from a lengthy injury layout, but he’s impressed in the game time afforded to him in the Premier League and Champions League this season. Arsene Wenger has been full of praise, and doesn’t have many other choices but the England international to start against his former side in truth.
Theo Walcott is expected to come in for Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide, and Welbeck is the only natural centre-forward in the squad to replace Giroud. While still Arsenal’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with 12 goals in 20 starts, his barren run is costing them results in games. Welbeck deserves his chance if he’s deemed fit enough to start, as Arsenal can’t afford to be shut out on Sunday.
Supporters want to see Welbeck come up against his old club, given the last time he faced off with Manchester United it was in the FA Cup quarter-finals and he scored the winning goal to send Arsenal into the semis. Nevertheless, Wenger is still unsure the 25-year-old is ready to start this weekend.
“It is not the case that it does not look like he has been away. People are quick to make assessments like that. He has been out for a while, we still need to be cautious with him. I haven’t picked my team yet for Sunday. I cannot tell you that now at the moment. He is still in the squad and he is not completely over his knee problem. He has done really well and is very fit. I have to analyse that,” said the Arsenal manager.
Olivier Giroud has scored only one goal past Manchester United in seven meetings, so does Danny Welbeck deserve his chance in the attack on Sunday? Should Giroud’s goal drought see him making way for the resurgent Englishman?
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