Danny Welbeck admits he’s still not sure when he’ll be fit to play first team football again but he’s pleased with the way his recovery from injury is going.
Having undergone two rounds of surgery since breaking his ankle in the 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon in November it looks likely that the England international, who is out of contract at the Emirates in the summer, will not play again for Arsenal.
Having missed 104 games because of injury since signing for the Gunners in 2014 – including two lengthy spells on the sidelines in quick succession after rupturing the ACL in both his left and right knees – Welbeck is well aware of the importance of staying mentally strong at times like this.
“It was difficult to take at the time. There’s never a right time to get injured,” he told Sport360 during a recent visit to the Arsenal Soccer School in Dubai.
“I want to participate in all the games, all the training, so it was difficult to take. The early stages were hard but you’ve got to stay strong and focused on what you’ve got to do to get back fit, and that’s what I’ve done.
“There’s stuff that will make you stronger and, mentally, I’m in a good place at the moment. I’m making good progress and I’m happy with the stage I’m at. It’s nice to have a break and get some good weather.
“It’s not something I can put a time frame on [returning to action]. I want to make sure I’m 100-per-cent right when I come back.
“But I’m really pleased with my progress. I’m doing a bit of training out here but hopefully when I get back to London Colney I can kick on a bit more. I’m looking forward to it.”
The club photographers have been on hand to chart Welbeck’s hard graft in the London Colney gym and swimming pool where he’s been pictured training with Rob Holding, who ruptured his ACL in December. In a few weeks time, they should be joined by Hector Bellerin who is currently recovering from ACL surgery in Spain. While it’s never nice to see players injured, it’s great they’ve got each other at this time.
Can’t help feeling that the injuries ( at the back ) has affected Emery’s team selections so much.
What was a competent (if not startling) back four is now a mishmash back five.
Remember the really good performances?
Bellerin /Sokratis / Holding all available…….not anymore and he’s panicked and so have the team.
And the fact that Emery’s not a great defensive coach. You can moan about injuries as much as you like but please don’t tell me that the likes of Watford, Palace and Newcastle all have better defenders than we do. Yet they have a better PL defensive records.
Apart from having no creativity, no game plan and no idea how to defend properly Emery’s doing a great job.
You’ll be wanting Arsene back next…
@Fatgooner I will tell you that the teams you’ve mentioned DO have better defenders because they DO have better defensive records. It’s that simple.
Watford, Palace and Newcastle would probably all pass up the chance of signing the likes of Lichtsteiner and Mustafi (even on a free) and that tells you all you need to know about our defenders.
Silly individual mistakes have been what’s costing us the most, not the general defensive system.
Exactly what I was thinking, I can’t see Mustafi, Lichtsteiner and maybe even AMN getting into the Watford back 4 tbh. It helps that they have Capoue and Doucoure in front of them of course, but the fact remains that we’re playing a bunch of second stingers and it shows.
Bollocks. Defending has always been about organisation. Look at our fabled back four of Dixon, Adams, Bould and Winterburn: individually only Adams was an England regular, yet as a unit they were formidable; that’s because they were properly coached. And George Graham made sure that the rest of the players did their jobs defensively too.
Emery’s defensive record was rubbish in Spain, and now he’s failing in England. We’re gonna concede more than 50 PL goals, and that’s not good enough.
George Graham in … he’s only 74.
Arteta in next season. City are flying. He’ll go elsewhere otherwise. Got to be ruthless. Appeal to his Gooner spirit.
It doesn’t work that way. Those teams all also have worse attacks than us. When they defend, they do so with more players due to less of a focus on the attacking side. Different game plan and tactics, so them having better defensive records doesn’t carry the weight you think it does.
Correct. Their focus is defence defence defence. Imagine the outcry at Arsenal if the team suddenly defended all the time and failed to push forward. Its not the Arsenal way.
Emery has to find that balance. I dont mind conceeding a goal if the team is scoring 3. Problem at moment is the team is scoring 2 and conceeding 2 or 3 and thats crod. He has to find the balance.
But… we are defending all the time and failing to push forward right now? *gasp*
Exactly. Emery is out of his depth. At least with Arsene we had a (flawed) plan. We have no plan now as far as I can tell.
Fat, do you think Guardiola can win the league or guarantee top four with our squad ?
I actually think the team is where it should be, that 4th to 6th spot. I am concerned about the MANURE revival though, they seem to be ready to lock down that 4th spot.
No. But he would get top four comfortably.
Lol well when Arsene was still in charge thats what many thought.Maybe you did too.The same way that many did not excuse Arsene for coming forth due to injuries that always struck like they are now with Emery.
I couldn’t agree more that injuries have ruined this season. It’s no coincidence that we were flying when healthy. However, Emery has to stop picking a back five. We have no offensive sharpness and we give up just as many goals. He should go with a back four and hope to out score the opposition. And ffs play an attacking midfielder to create chances. I don’t care if it’s Ozil, Ramsey, or Suarez.
Flying? Hahaha!
We are only 1 point off top 4.
Guardia had plenty of problems even with expensively assembled City even in his first season.
Otamendi and Stones have been transformed into much better defenders than initially.
It’s his first season.
Many issues won’t be solved overnight.
No need to get your knickers in a twist.
Unbeaten run capped with NLD smashing and draw at OT, which is when Holding was injured. The injuries piled up from there and the results have been average since. What’s your take, Adam?
NLD smashing was great but we were not flying up to that point. We were struggling before the injuries to take control of games we should have been. We should have beaten ManU at that point. They were a mess.
Injuries are part of the game.
Flying? Are you being serious
Why not give the guy a Diaby style pay as you play deal for a year and see how it goes? I can’t see us finding an impact striker or Danny’s quality for less than about 30m and we need cover. No transfer fee but pay the guy his signing on bonus to keep him here.
I know these things are incredibly complex but I really do hope to see him play for us again …
Would you agree for such deal if it was you?
Wilshere didn’t..
I don’t see it happening either. It’s a shame about Danny though because he has been very useful for us when fit.
I imagine that he’ll get a better offer than that somewhere else and choose to leave.
Wanted him sold last year due to contract running out and Iwobi and Nelson emerging.
But based on his performances this season prior to injury I thought he deserved an extension (a more than decent assist and goal return and his workrate is always up there) I’m quite certain he is better than Suarez but club has taken the decision to let him go so I wish him the best.
Talking about Welbz?
He’s a forward, different ftom Iwobi or Nelson. Certainly very different from Dennis.
Wenger had him out left but I feel he is best up top.
But his touch has been erratic.
That is over 200 games missed in 5 years from 2 players. Arsenal need to think about pay as you play for more players!
ACLs popping all over the place! Assuming there’s no underlying reasons, then that’s some rough luck that Danny and we have been having 🙁
I’ve always thought Ozil is the most technically adept and spatially aware player we’ve had since God. But he does tackle and track back like Walcott light. And I do see him running around and covering space, but that’s where he reminds me of Walcott- even when he’s in position I don’t expect him to do anything beyond cut off a passing lane. Making an actual tackle is just so rare. Why can’t we have a best of both worlds situation? If Ozil put in the effort off the ball then Emery would have him in the team quick as… Read more »
I don’t think it’s a lack of effort on Ozil’s part.
He genuinely covers a lot of ground.
But it’s the tackling where he is insipid and lacks gumption.
It’s too easy to brush him off the ball.
And that becomes a liability defensively
If ozil did all the stuff you are asking for he wouldn’t even be at arsenal right now. He would have gone elsewhere after Madrid or during his early years at arsenal.
If he didn’t have flaws he would be in the Ronaldo or Messi conversation
We are worse defensively than we were last year. We’ve ipgraded in those positions overall and look bad. This is also with emery getting rest of the team on board with his “tactics”
I love him to bits, but I think his passion for Playing football has dulled down a lot. He is now relaxed on his laurels. I hope I am wrong but I think I am not. At 30 he is isn’t going to change. Better sell him to a club where he will revered and we can cash in > 50 million £.
Unfortunately, Emrey has inherited an outdated team and the club aren’t prepared to back big bucks in defensive positions. There’s no doubt Emrey has the quality to bring us back to the top – just look at his record with the likes of Sevilla (who arguably aren’t a rich side). For Emrey to be succesful at Arsenal (or any manger) they need to build from the back up. However, I feel that now days it is that difficult to get a decent CB or wing back (due to their lack of availability) you either spend big or have to be… Read more »
An ‘outdated’ team that put 10 past BATE last season. Great news for all of us though. Those Banega rumours are resurfacing…..
Yeah legacy issues are exaggerated.
But there are still areas of the team that have been neglected and/or not properly addressed.
Rwing has been a vacancy for 2 or 3 seasons running now, arguably even with Alexis.
What? Have you actually gone over his record and stats at Sevilla? They are overrated. His claim to fame is winning Europa 3 times ina row. Great. No doubt that’s a good achievement anytime you win 3 tournaments in a row. That also means he crashed out of CL 2 years in a row during the group stage. Yes Sevilla was good enough during those years to get through the group stage at least once. He never finished top 4 during his time. Gave up ton of goals. He was exposed at PSG. He had one job that was get… Read more »
I hope we allow him to train with us even after his contract’s expired, should he find himself without a new club straight away. While there’s no objective reason to, it would be the right thing to do, and if you’ll forgive the psuedo-corporate terminology would show some “Arsenal values” are still alive.
Emery used Ramsey. I don’t see why he won’t use Ozil.
Issues are likely as he says “tactical”.
IE. Defensive side of Ozil’s game.
Welbeck OTOH will likely be sold in the summer.
We have a 27/28yr old striker in Lacazzette and a 29/30yr old in Auba.
Likely we will be bringing in a younger striker. Hence the rumour on Marco Thuram.
Let’s extend the man 3 years and sign a striker for European Football
Thank you so much for letting us know of the well-being of Danny Welbeck. He is the reason why I am still supporting Arsenal. Whatever team that signs after summer is the team I will support.
The high press energy game takes its toll on players as the season progresses .
During the run of 22 games unbeaten the total distance ran by Arsenal was always more than there opponents I wonder whether that has now dropped off as results seem to suggest
When the body is tired injuries seem happen
If you’re only following Danny you must have a lot of free time in your hands, good for you…
Of course injuries have had an impact. But it’s also the neglect that has made us fray at the seams so much quicker when 1 or 2 players are out. As much as defense is an ongoing issue, so has midfield. Again Mustafi isn’t there to blame when we shed points to BHA and Soton and West Ham. Midfield was destabilized when we moved Granit to cover fir shortfalls in defense. It also broke a developing relationship on pitch between Granit and Torreira Guendouzi who is still a developing player stepped in as best as he could. But it also… Read more »
Let’s also remember when assessing defenders that things can change rapidly.
Two seasons ago Otamendi was poor.
Not to recently, Stones was somewhat of a liability.
It’s very different this season.
Fernandinho and Gundagan are practically the ONLY two options for City deep midfield but they have done sterling work covering the Cbacks.
As of course, the rest of the city outfit.