After a mostly productive summer transfer window, Arsenal signed Danny Welbeck at the 11th hour. The signing is a somewhat strange one for several reasons, mainly due to the fact that Danny Welbeck doesn't play center back. All in all though, I am happy with his signing and our business this summer, all totaled, looks pretty good.
Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina add up to a pretty impressive haul, now topped off with Welbeck. The only negative takeaway is that we were already short on defenders heading into the summer and that was before we sold Thomas Vermaelen. We also sold Ignasi Miquel to Norwich on deadline day so I just genuinely can't understand how we didn't add another center back.
So far Chambers has looked great there, considering he's only 19 years old. Still, in his first few games with us he's shown glimpses of his inexperience which will make it a risk to really depend on him for long stretches. Really it should be the other way around when talking about a teenage defender making the step up from Southampton to Arsenal — you'd think he'd be showing flashes of his future potential while looking like a raw talent overall. Chambers' signing may quietly be the best piece of business we pulled off this summer, but that doesn't excuse the fact that we need more than three fit natural central defenders.
The decision not to buy another center back may come back to bite us in the ass this season but I guess we'll just have to see how things play out. There have been whispers about youngsters Issac Hayden and right back Hector Bellerin maybe seeing action if needed but that again seems like a huge, unnecessary risk.
On his merits though, I think Welbeck could be a very useful player for us for years to come. His goal-scoring record is spotty at best, but he's still 23 as well and therefore is entering his prime. He adds to Arsenal's growing English core so it doesn't hurt that he's played with Wilshere, Ox and Gibbs before. When I've seen him in action for Man U, he's looked a pretty tricky dribbler, has good pace and is dynamic enough to play as an outright striker for us (which not all of our forwards can say is their best position). He looks good enough on the ball to fit in with our one-touch, flicky attack play and if his movement off the ball can reach Giroud's level, then he'll strengthen us greatly.
Overall, I'm very happy with his addition. Whatever criticisms there are about him, as there are with pretty much any player, he has scored goals in the Premier League before which can't be underestimated. I think that Yaya Sanogo will eventually come good, but we can't afford to wait for him to gain experience during real games in which real things are on the line. Welbeck's addition will take the pressure off of him to produce so he can still learn and grow into the player he can become.
I still think Alexis has a part to play with us as a central striker too, but I like the versatility that adding Welbeck gives us so that we're not really pigeon-holed into any particular lineup. Plus, with Walcott on his way back and when Giroud comes back in January, we'll have legitimate options. Maybe there's still time to buy a center back in January if need be, I just hope it's not too late for our title hopes by that time.
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