Manchester United fans couldn't help but notice defender Chris Smalling equalling Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck's Premier League goal tally.
When Danny Welbeck was sold by Manchester United on deadline day, pundits queued up to lambast the Red Devils for selling the striker.
Welbeck joined rivals Arsenal, and showed his prowess early on with a Champions League hat-trick and scoring five goals in England's first four Euro 2016 qualifying matches.
In the Premier League however goals have been harder to come by; Welbeck has netted only four times this season.
It's not a great return from a forward regardless of whether he has played some games on the wing. Manchester United defender Chris Smalling equalled his league goal tally yesterday with a strike against Manchester City, also possessing a far more clinical conversion rate.
Position | Team | Goals | Scoring V Shooting Accuracy | Appearances | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Smalling | DF | Man Utd | 4 | 31% | 19 |
Danny Welbeck | FW | Arsenal | 4 | 7% | 26 |
United sold Welbeck due to the loan signing of Radamel Falcao, who has failed to live up to expectations and his previous high standards.
He also has four goals, the same figure as Welbeck. The difference is for United that they can hand the Colombian back to Monaco at the end of the season, while for Arsenal there is no return option on the England international.
Welbeck has been unable to dislodge Olivier Giroud from the central striking spot in 2015, with the Frenchman in outstanding form - but he did score a notable winner over former side Manchester United in last month's FA Cup quarter-final.
This was a defeat which has been brushed aside for United of late by their recent impressive Premier League form, but Welbeck's decision to celebrate his winner against them may just have left a bitter taste for some supporters.
Mixed in with the wide ranging criticism United took after his winner, and the sale, supporters took great delight in poking fun at his low goal tally yesterday after Smalling drew level with him.
Chris Smalling: 4 Goals for #MUFC.
Danny Thierry Welbeck: 4 goals for #AFC.
No more comments.
#MUFC #GGMU #ReUNITED2014-15
— Ankit Mehta (@MagicianMata08) April 12, 2015
The awkward moment when you realise that Chris Smalling has as many league goals and Danny Welbeck #awkward #wrongred #MUFC
— John Faulkner (@jboy190596) April 12, 2015
Goals this season:
Smalling: 4
Welbeck: 4
Thanks for the 16 million Arsenal LOL.
#MUFC
— APG (@MrAPG) April 12, 2015
Sold welbeck and smalling stepped up to score his goals. LMAO. #MUFC
— Taj S Padda (@Taj_Padda) April 12, 2015
So Chris Smalling has the same amount of goals as Danny Welbeck this season well sold Van Gaal!
— Matthew Hoade (@matthoade) April 12, 2015
How can a striker (welbeck)be competing with a defender (smalling) for goals this season, 4-4 van gaal was right welbeck is useless
— N.J.D (@push4ward_7) April 12, 2015
Anyone who said LVG never should have sold welbeck, here's a stat:
Goals in the BPL this season:
Welbeck- 4
Smalling- 4
#IamRed #banta
— Sioni Benham (@SioniBenham) April 12, 2015
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