Golden Chance To Take Centre Stage For
England
Personal information
Full name: Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck
Date of birth: 26 November 1990
Age: 23
Place of birth: Longsight, Manchester, England
Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position: Forward/Winger
Club information
Current team: Arsenal
Number: 23
Youth career 2001–2008: Manchester United
Senior career 2008–2014: Manchester United 142 Appearances, 29 goals
2010 → Preston North End (loan) 8 Appearances, 2 goals
2010–2011 → Sunderland (loan) 28 Appearances, 6 goals
2014– Arsenal 6 Appearances, 4 goals
National team2006–2007: England U17 11 Appearances, 2 goals
2007–2008: England U18 2 Appearances, 2 goals
2008–2009: England U19 8 Appearances, 2 goals
2009–2011: England U21 14 Appearances, 5 goals
2011– England 28 Appearances, 10 goals
Danny Welbeck has a golden chance to take centre stage for Arsenal
and England. Welbeck has a wonderful opportunity opening up over the next few
weeks.
It’s very unfortunate that Olivier Giroud is injured for Arsenal and
Daniel Sturridge is out for England. But for Welbeck, these circumstances have
presented him with the chance to establish his credentials. The England
international joined Arsenal in September 2014.
The 23-year-old joined from
Manchester United, where he made a total of 142 appearances, scoring 29 goals.
Welbeck, who can play as a centre forward or a winger, developed through the
youth ranks at Old Trafford.
Making his senior England debut in March 2011,
Welbeck was in the England squads for both Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup.
For both club and country, it is all finally coming together for the
23-year-old striker. His hat-trick against Galatasaray showed that he is
absolutely making the most of the chance given to him.
Welbeck’s Champions
League performance was very different from the past. Then, when he had time to
linger on a chance, he seemed to struggle. This time around he was clinical
even when he had time to think. Part of that is clearly his confidence.
He has
a manager who believes in him and he is responding. But it’s also because he’s
playing in better areas that are suited to his game. The England international runs
off the back of defenders and stretches teams with his pace.
He couldn’t do
that on the flanks at Manchester United. Wide players do so much work they are
almost like full-backs and because he is so hard-working and disciplined, he
covered miles in that shift. The downside of such honesty is that he is not in
the areas where he is most dangerous.
Now he’s making darting runs in areas of
the pitch that hurt the opposition. Welbeck suits Arsenal’s style as he gives
Arsenal another dimension.
He also did well down the centre for England against
Switzerland last month by scoring twice and now he has two games coming up
against San Marino and Estonia, when you would expect him to score more goals.
By the time he comes back from international duty, his confidence should be
sky-high.
Welbeck’s work rate is exemplary. When required, he has no hesitation about
dropping into midfield to fill in for team-mates. He holds the ball up well,
and his passing is consistently accurate. Crucially, he’s quick.
Welbeck is able
to stretch defences with his speed, and he pairs his athleticism with astute
decision-making. It’s not just how fast his runs are, it’s how smart they are,
too. Welbeck plays with the footballing intelligence you’d expect of a player
whose skills have been honed at Manchester United’s fabled academy.
Born in Longsight,
Manchester, to Ghanaian parents, Welbeck was first spotted by Manchester United
as a six-year-old. At eight years old, he impressed with local side Fletcher
Moss, and was finally picked up by the Manchester United youth academy.
The
major criticism of his game has been his lack of composure in front of goal.
However, Welbeck has delivered a marvellous showcase of his finishing ability
by scoring four goals in six appearances for Arsenal.
After Welbeck’s
blistering performance against Galatasaray, he earned a few murmured
comparisons with Thierry Henry. At this stage, that’s hugely premature. This
was an example of how good Welbeck can be, but he needs to improve if he is to deliver
this kind of grandstand performance more regularly.
At just 23 years old, there is still plenty of time for
Welbeck to make good on the undeniable potential he showcased from an early
age. He burst onto the scene at United as a 17-year-old, scoring a stunning goal
against Stoke City during his first Premier League game.
Loan spells at Preston
North End and Sunderland followed that blistering introduction, and Welbeck
flourished as the front man during his time up on Wearside, suggesting he could
return to United and potentially play a major part.
But he failed to nail down
a regular spot in the Red Devils first team and was reportedly told that he was
surplus to requirements by Louis van Gaal. Welbeck now has an opportunity to
make a name for himself after being a key figure for Roy Hodgson’s England
setup, despite his lack of action at club level.
It is to Welbeck’s credit that
he has left his dream club to further his career, and both his club and country
could benefit from his move.