Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is eager to offer a new deal to their English forward Danny Welbeck. According to recent reports in the English media, the Frenchman wants the 27-year-old striker to commit his long-term future to the club. The English ace has suffered ‘traumatic’ knee injuries over the past 18 months which has kept him out of Arsenal’s first-team picture. The Gunners boss is now hoping that Welbeck can gather some inspiration from the remarkable comeback of Jack Wilshere, who has recently bounced back from a serious injury and is now poised to pen a new deal to extend his stay at the club.
The England international started against Ostersunds in the Europa League on Thursday night but failed to help his team avoid defeat on the night. The North Londoners lost the match 2-1 but won the tie with a 4-2 aggregate scoreline to secure their passage through to the next round of the competition. In a recent interview, Wenger revealed that the former Manchester United forward can make an impression with the England national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup which kicks off in Russia later this year. He was quoted to have said,
‘I like him because he can play left, right or up front, and for his quality,’
‘He is a useful player and useful is a positive. He might not be a goalscorer like Harry Kane but for England, he can perfectly play with Kane because he can play on the flanks.’
Welbeck’s current contract with Arsenal expires in the summer of 2019. Wenger also added, ‘I want to keep him because he has gone through a torrid time and come out well.’
Welbeck has been subject to a lot of injuries during the past few years. Wenger also expressed his desire to keep him at the club and said,
‘One of the advantages of being young is that you feel indestructible. It gives you an arrogance but when you lose that belief in your body, your arrogance is hit and you are lost. You can get it back but it takes time.
‘There was a time when I remember him playing for England in Switzerland and he looked marvellous. I see signs of him now in training where he is like that period.
‘He’s a player we’d all like to come back. If he can stay on the pitch and not be injured, I want him to stay here.’
The Gunners have progressed into the Carabao Cup final, where they will face off against the Premier League champions-elect Manchester City on Sunday. However, they have slumped to sixth place in the Premier League table, seven points shy of fourth-placed Chelsea and 27 behind league leaders Manchester City. Welbeck has featured in 25 matches for Arsenal this season, scoring 5 goals and providing one assist in all competitions. If he can remain fit, the 27-year-old has proved it in the past that he can be a regular goal-scorer for his team. If the Gunners can nurse him through his injury problems, then extending his stay can be a viable option. It remains to be seen what lies in the future of Welbeck and whether the North London outfit offers him a chance to extend his time at the Emirates Stadium in the near future.
