Why a panic buy in Danny Welbeck could yet be Arsenal's most important signing this summer
Article by Neil LeverettFollow e-Arsenal on Twitter
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As the dust settles on an explosive transfer deadline day and after the most expensive transfer window in Premier League history opinions are divided on the big two signings of Deadline Day, whose outcomes greatly affected one another. One of course being the blockbuster and frankly staggering signing of Radamel Falcao by Manchester United and the other being Danny Welbeck's departure from Old Trafford and a rather unlikely arrival through the doors at Arsenal.
Both additions to United and The Gunners were greatly disparate in stature and yet both could turn out to be successes and failures in equal measure. Certainly the arrival of the Colmbian is a huge coup for Louis Van Gaal's Red Devils, and seemingly is the far bigger deal than the relatively underwhelming - in some quarters at least - capture of Welbeck. However if we look at the bigger picture, Arsenal fans may just end up happier in the long run.
After missing out on Falcao yesterday morning Gunners fans (including myself) had to fight off huge disappointment after missing out on a player who would have been the perfect fit to not only fill the void left by the injured Olivier Giroud, but could fire the Gunners into a different place in terms of striking ability and all round performance. In reality, the £350k per week that Falcao will be on during his one year loan means the deal equates to £24m including wages. Clearly Arsene Wenger was never going to go to that level of wage. Heck, even Man City wouldn't, Financial Fair Play or not.
So after the crushing disappointment there was a period of desperation of who Arsenal could still get in and with Arsene Wenger jetting off to Rome to referee a football game (extraordinarily naively on behalf of Arsenal fans) for peace in the Vatican, Wenger was seemingly failing to keep the peace at his own football club. Then shortly after 6pm on Monday came the news of the Danny Welbeck deal.
This was also clearly a shock move, but for different reasons. Earlier in the day, Welbeck had been strongly linked with a move to Spurs but as England were quite conveniently training at Colney it was perfect for Dick Law and Ivan Gazidis to strike. Whilst obviously not a marquee signing of the ilk of Falcao, a move for Danny Welbeck was vital as cover in the forward department. The move for Welbeck rolled on late into the evening as rumours of the deal were on-off as Welbeck wanted a permanent deal and out of a United who had began to cast him aside.
Shortly after 1am on Tuesday morning and well into September 2nd, both the Welbeck and Falcao deals were finally completed. Welbeck had departed his boyhood club and Falcao was plying his trade in the Premier League after a stringent medical was passed. A permanent £16m deal for Welbeck seemed steep, given that Mario Balotelli moved to Liverpool for the same fee. Opinion was split as news filtered thorough but the difference in views after the original loan deal was changed to a complete deal altered the stances of both sets of fans.
The consensus was that United fans were unhappy and Gooners were underwhelmed. But lets look at this statistically and pragmatically. Hours after the Falcao deal fell through, reality dawned (for this writer at least). Arsenal's interest was merely that. In hindsight everyman and his dog knew Arsenal could not afford Radamel Falcao's wages. As such the level of deflation need not have existed; It was a no go. Of course a fully fit Falcao is a sensational striker, nay the best in the world. But this Falcao is recovering from a serious ACL injury and doubts remain.
The Colombian's stats speak for themselves. Since moving to Europe, Falcao has scored 104 goals in 138 appearances during his time at Porto, Atletico and Monaco. A clear average of over a goal every other game. With the arrival of Di Maria and the already present talents of Van Persie, Rooney, Mata, Januzaj and Herrera at United's disposal, Falcao has every chance of continuing his hot scoring streak. But there lies the doubt. A year loan deal for such an astronomical amount has its' risks.
For Arsenal, a 'panic buy' in Danny Welbeck also represents an element of risk but that level is significantly diminished with the need for a out-and-out forward man to replace the beleaguered Giroud. As documented, his arrivals at the Emirates has brought mixed reactions but his potential as the lone striker in team seemingly full of midfielders is great, and his stats reflect this.
During the 2013-14 Premier League campaign, Welbeck had the fourth highest average for non-penalty goalscorers, behind Sergio Aguero, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, at 0.64 per 90 mins. Statistics like that would be impressive enough, but given the fact Welbeck was often played wide right and non in a striking role, those numbers stand out even more. Looking further afield now as a permanent member of this Arsenal squad, Olivier Giroud may not be so under pressure for goals and whose hold up play could become vital for Welbeck.
On the face of it Manchester United's capture of Radamel Falcao is a game-changer for Van Gaal's United who have yet to record a victory this term. But Danny Welbeck's leaving Manchester United could be the most important piece of business. It was two short seasons ago that Van Persie made the switch to Old Trafford from North London and now that passage has gone full circle with Arsenal now the beneficiary. On the back of Arsene Wenger's most financially salubrious transfer window, it is just possible that Arsenal's purchase of Danny Welbeck on deadline day could prove to be the best piece of business yet.
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