The Arsenal fans are feeling apprehensive in the Transfer Tavern ahead of their last-32 Europa League tie with Swedish outfit Ostersunds this evening.
Arsene Wenger takes his side to Sweden tonight for by far the biggest fixture in their opponents short history. Plenty has been made of Ostersunds rapid development which has seen them rise from the 4th tier of Swedish football to the Allsvenskan, and now the Europa League in just 7 years under the leadership of English manager Graham Potter. For the hosts, fixtures don’t come any bigger than this, so they will certainly be fired up and raring to go when they step out onto the pitch this evening.
For Arsenal, the fixture is one of those awkward ones where a victory is expected and anything less will be criticised by the supporters and the media in the UK, so they will need to ensure they eradicate all feelings of complacency before they kick-off tonight.
Ahead of the Gunners clash with Ostersunds, Wenger discussed the fitness of Danny Welbeck (valued at £13.5 million by Transfermarkt) and declared that he is the sharpest he has been for quite some time.
‘He had to wait a little to get back into the team, but that gave him time to work on his fitness.
‘I have seen today he is sharper than a long time.’
– Wenger on Danny Welbeck pic.twitter.com/1bHJUpokvR
— ArsenalFanTV (@ArsenalFanTV) February 14, 2018
Welbeck struggled to return to full-fitness earlier in the season due to a couple of troublesome injuries. Since returning to the first-team squad, Welbeck has made 11 Premier League appearances, but 10 of those were as a substitute – a fact which suggests he is massively out of favour at the club.
In response to Wenger’s update on Welbeck, the Arsenal supporters offered their mixed opinions regarding his goal-scoring ability and the credibility of their managers comments.
Plenty of the fans believe he has underachieved during his stint at the club since moving from Man United and they are hoping that he can improve his performances in the future, but considering he is 27-years-old the majority seem to think the England international has ran out of chances to impress.
Here’s what the fans on Twitter have had to say about Wenger’s comments regarding Welbeck…
https://twitter.com/AAk2504/status/963861992707710977
Dude he’s 27. It’s too late for that now
— Nyoni yezulu (@NellzNelson) February 14, 2018
If Danny Welbeck was a rock band he’d be Everything But The Goals.
Make me eat my words lad.— Chocolateboywonder (@Legarcondechoc) February 14, 2018
Just put Monreal up front
— Andres Cuesta (@wax5800) February 14, 2018
Hard to believe Wenger anymore.
— XenTrader (@XenTrader) February 14, 2018
Wenger has lost all credibility, as far as I'm concerned. I no longer have faith in anything he says, to the point of not actually believing him.
— Jeff Jeffery (@jpjeffery) February 14, 2018
Thank god. We’re sure to finish in the top 4 now…
— Daniel Partington (@Partington89) February 14, 2018
Unfortunately haven’t seen the best of him – wonder if it’s too late – need a DM and CB – need LACA FIT @LacazetteAlex @TroopzAFC
— Kaz (@KazFootballer10) February 14, 2018
5 goals a season won’t win anything
— The Guvnor (@mickhowsthat) February 14, 2018
Most underrated player at Arsenal.
— A14 (@abduleemI) February 14, 2018
