The former Arsenal defender has been discussing the ex-Manchester United foward.
Martin Keown believes Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck’s biggest weakness is his movement off the ball, according to the Daily Mail.
The ex-Arsenal defender has praised the 24-year-old’s work-rate but feels the former Manchester United forward is not yet ready to be a central striker.
And Keown feels Welbeck has plenty to learn in terms of his running and how he attacks opposition defences if he is ever to move inward from his current role out wide.
“I think Danny Welbeck still needs a lot of work to play as the central striker,” Keown said during a ‘Tackle Keown’ session on the Daily Mail website.
“He can play centre forward but the work that needs to be done with him is his movement off the ball. His willingness to work for the team stands out. That’s been done at detriment to his knowledge of where to run to affect the opposition.
“If I see a centre forward running back deep into their own half, they’re 50 yards from my goal and I’m happy. But, if the opposition centre forward is trying to push me back and play on my shoulder, I’m a bit concerned.”
Keown’s words, of course, might just be music to the ears of Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, who insisted the 24-year-old was not a better striker than the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie or Radamel Falcao.
That trio have not exactly been netting on a regular basis for Man Unitedof late, however, and – as Keown has alluded to – Welbeck’s work-rate has been of great benefit to Arsenal when the forward has been fit.
Right now, meanwhile, it isn’t necessarily an issue that the former Manchester United man isn’t a striker for the Gunners. With Olivier Giroud & Chuba Akpom up top and Alexis Sanchez & Theo Walcott perhaps able to deputise up front, Welbeck’s energy and immense fitness levels are a huge bonus out wide.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
