Danny Welbeck is in the travelling squad for Wednesday’s Europa League final against Chelsea in Baku.
The striker was with the group that set off for Baku today, having not played a minute of competitive action since suffering a broken ankle in the group stage game against Sporting on November 8th.
It’s a boost for Unai Emery to have the experienced England international – more than likely from the bench – as another attacking option. Arsenal are of course without Henrikh Mkhitaryan who won’t be available due to the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan ruled him out.
The head coach can choose 12 substitutes for the game, so there’s plenty of room for Welbeck, and exciting young talents Bukayo Saka and Xavier Amaechi have also made the trip.
The Gunners are heading out early to prepare with two days of training in Baku before the crunch showdown on Wednesday night.
Good news! Shame he’s leaving us after though
Part of life
Think how much Ozil, Sanchez (Mkhitaryan), Rambo and Welbeck has cost us due to our pathetic contract shenanigans.
150M would be a rough estimate.
How do people not lose their jobs for this nonsense?
Or two Virgil Van Dijk’s.
I think a certain AW is no longer with us, and perhaps this nonsense was a part contributor to that.
If this is Wenger’s fault then it still means a lot of people at the club weren’t doing their job.
He was a football manager, not a contract negotiator.
at least from what i can glean from the vinai and raul videos, i got the impression that wenger was both
As I said, he shouldn’t have been. So that’s on the club.
Yeah they haven’t been doing much at all. Look at our finances, once we stopped selling our best players, our profit quickly turned into losses. As a business or as a commercial property, Arsenal at the moment is failing in a big way. Even when we were in UCL, we didn’t manage to improve brand. Ivan and Co are to blame for that.
Good… after that horrendous injury, be nice to see him play one last time & hopefully end on a high
Glad Saka made the trip, really like him!
Lost it at the caption
How about we set up like this: Leno Sokratis Koscielny Monreal Maitland-Niles Kolasinac Torreira Xhaka Welbeck/Iwobi Aubameyang Lacazette Sure, I know Welbeck hasn’t had any game time, but his work rate and ability to play out wide gives us some extra width, and he can more than fill in for the gap left by Mhiki as can Iwobi. Though if fit, personally think Welbeck is a better option due to his overall ability, experience and work rate. Ozil for me doesn’t start, we need players who are going to track back and stop the likes of Hazard getting forward. I’ve… Read more »
You’ve got to play Ozil if you are going to play two strikers, otherwise no one gets them the ball. His ability to hold the ball while we shift to attack is absolutely crucial, though surely he’s going to have Kante (if fit) or Jorginho in his face all game (Emery will likely instruct the front three to shift positions constantly). He can be benched if you prefer 4-3-3 to match up with Chelsea more directly (this is the only surprise Emery could realistically start the game with), but otherwise someone has to be out there to feed the forwards… Read more »
Arsenal fans! Ozil may not perform well, not be there in big games, his big name and very big salary always prevail.
That’s 12 mate
How about making Hazard track back? That stops him from going forward too.
What is wrong with you, Anthony?
Does anyone know why it is 12 subs? I mean, 11 subs makes much more sense to me…..
Personally would be in favour of 11 subs being available full time in the prem as gives young players more opportunity to be around the team and get minutes if the circumstances allow. Would probably need some rules that make clubs use young players, say must have 5 subs under 21 or something to avoid clubs like city having 22 internationals in the squad.
I’m in favour of this idea. Unless they are sent put on loan, play in the league cup real exposure to competitive games is limited. Sure there the U21 games, but it’s not like playing in the pressure cooker of a proper league game.
Completely agree in applying a cap to it though. As you say, teams like City would abuse it and just pack it full of full-internationals.
Yes, definitely. I wonder how many times the manger looks at his bench and thinks “shit, i could really do with x right now”
I think two subs for goalkeeping position and one each other position.
4 defenders 2 wb 2 cb
5 midfielders 2 wide 2 defensive
2 attackers
1 gk
1 utility player
Jenko really is living the dream, isn’t he? Subs bench in a European final.
” accompanied by his spiritual advisor, the Archbishop of Banterbury” That really made me laugh. You are a funny fucker Arseblog.
Welbeck is only in the team to be in the celebration if we win. He can’t play a competitive game without playing for youth team for a couple of weeks.
he scored a hat trick mid week in a closed door friendly. I’d take the risk with him especially if it goes to extra time. He can provide a bit of chaos in the final third and he’s quite good at heading.
I’m going to miss him, but I think we have to move on because he’s too injury prone sadly.
He’s been training and rumoured to have scored 2/4 in the Austrian friendly. He’s not likely to start but he’s an excellent option for half an hour at the end
Indeed, he scored a great curler (top right corner) with his left butt cheek and a cheeky chip over the keeper with his right knee.
Hey Blogsy, did Rambo travel?
Hung onto players for too long many times and now we let them go just a little too early lol. Weird world aye
Might come in very handy.
I don’t think missing Mhkitaryan is a loss.
But Welbeck as an alternative if we are chasing goal(s), is indeed useful.
Will leave his mark on the game as an legend in a goner kitchen just watch