Why Arsenal Have Got the Better of the Danny Welbeck Deal with Manchester United

On the final day of last summer’s transfer window, a domino rally of deals saw Danny Welbeck move from Manchester United to Arsenal. The agreement was facilitated by the fact that United were able to secure a loan move for Colombian superstar Radamel Falcao. Six months on, neither man has quite made the impact with their new club they may have hoped for. Nevertheless, it’s impossible to escape the conclusion that Arsenal got the better of this particular deal.

Initially, trading in Falcao for Welbeck appeared to be an obvious upgrade. The former Atletico Madrid man arrived with a reputation as a global star and one of the game’s great penalty-box predators.

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However, since coming to Manchester he has looked a mere shadow of his former self. Fears abound that a serious knee injury may have taken a permanent toll on the Colombian, who seems to lack the half-yard acceleration required to thrive as a Premier League goalscorer.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe (h/t ITV news), United have already informed Monaco they will not be taking up their option to sign the centre-forward on a permanent basis. Given that Falcao’s loan deal has, according to David McConnell of the Mirror, cost United a whopping £24 million, he has to be written off as an expensive and ultimately failed gamble. Falcao is now existing on borrowed time at Old Trafford.

By contrast, there is still plenty of time for Danny Welbeck to come good. Less than a year in to a long-term contract, he is confident he’s making good progress. Per John Cross of the Mirror, Welbeck recently said:

"

I think it’s gone okay. I wish to do a lot more, definitely will do and it’s something I want to build on and keep progressing.

But I feel like I’ve improved. It’s different going from one team to another, settling in and once you get past that stage you want to keep pushing on and get a second to none understanding with team mates on the pitch. Once you build that relationship on the pitch, things will only get better.

"

At a time when Falcao’s powers seem to be on the wane, Welbeck is still making positive strides in his development.

It’s clear where he needs to improve. Welbeck has many admirable attributes, but he lacks the predatory instinct that made Falcao a sensation.

This season, neither man has been particularly prolific. Both Falcao and Welbeck have just four Premier league goals this season, from a comparable amount of appearances. However, Welbeck’s overall contribution to the team gives him the edge. He works incredibly hard for the team and seems to have edged ahead of Theo Walcott in the battle for a first-team place.

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His goalscoring record has dropped away in the second half of the season, but that’s largely because he’s been used on the wings. The form and fitness of Olivier Giroud has seen Welbeck struggle for game-time in his preferred central striking role. 

Nevertheless, Arsene Wenger seems very happy with his acquisition. Speaking to Arsenal.com, he said:

"

He’s very important and has played many, many games since the start of the season. I think he’s played in nearly every single game. His position is one of the three up front - central, left or right. He can play anywhere.

He plays very well for me and is an exceptional player who will have a great future here. I am very, very happy that I bought him.

"

It is hard to imagine Louis van Gaal offering such a ringing endorsement of Falcao’s qualities. Welbeck and Arsenal seem a far better match than United and Falcao could hope to be.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.