adminARSENAL’S draw with Manchester City at Emirates Stadium will have brought both pleasure and frustration to Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini.
Gunners’ boss Wenger was left regretting the failure to hold on for victory, while City counterpart Pellegrini saw his side concede a lead before rescuing a point — while also nursing a very obvious sense of injustice over a series of decisions from referee Mark Clattenburg.
All eyes were on Danny Welbeck as he made his debut following his £16 million move from Manchester United — and plenty of other talking points came out of a highly entertaining 2-2 draw.
The two sides of Danny Welbeck
Former Manchester United striker Welbeck was given a standing ovation by Arsenal’s fans after he hobbled off late on with cramp — after a performance that perhaps summed up his career so far.
Welbeck was powerful, energetic, unselfish and offered the sort of attacking focal point that will be crucial to an Arsenal side packed with mercurial, but not exactly physical, presence in the shape of Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.
The England striker’s departure from Old Trafford was accompanied by a less-than-flattering send-off from manager Louis van Gaal, who made an unfavourable comparison between his record and that of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao.
It was somewhat harsh in that few would suggest Welbeck was in that elite bracket — and his chances to perform in his favoured central position were limited at Old Trafford.
Here, though, there was a moment that drew the mind back to Van Gaal’s comments as Welbeck raced clean through on to David Silva’s misplaced backpass after 11 minutes. He was composed, only to hit the post with his chip.
It was easy to admire his audacity but arguably he was guilty of over-complicating matters.
On the plus side Welbeck’s attitude, as ever, was exemplary and it was his nuisance value (a value not appreciated by angry Manchester City manager Pellegrini) that saw him in close proximity to Vincent Kompany as his clearing header was sent back into the area for Sanchez’s equaliser.
Arsenal boss Wenger drew attention to Welbeck’s link play, suggesting this is an area for improvement, but this was his first start and his natural footballing intelligence should address this.
If Welbeck can start to look as accomplished a finisher at club level as he does for England, then Wenger will have got himself a bargain at £16 million.
The raw materials are there to work with — but Welbeck showed he still needs to find that ruthless touch in front of goal.
BBC Radio 5 live analyst Steve Claridge: “I wouldn’t say it was a fantastic debut but Welbeck has shown he will have a big part to play in what Arsenal will achieve this season.”
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is as undemonstrative as they come — but referee Mark Clattenburg is a man who makes him drop the mask.
Pellegrini clearly remembers Clattenburg’s refusal to award a penalty when Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel handled in City’s defeat at Anfield late last season and he was in unforgiving mood again here.
The Chilean, who rarely gets rattled, could barely disguise his annoyance at his belief that Sergio Aguero was fouled in the build-up to Jack Wilshere’s equaliser and that the England midfield man was also guilty of handball.
Pellegrini’s final complaint about Welbeck fouling Kompany before Arsenal’s second was tenuous, as Manchester City’s outstanding captain did not complain and play moved on before Sanchez scored with a fine volley.
The manager’s selection brought plenty of comment, with Frank Lampard in for his debut as Yaya Toure was rested and James Milner a pick that hinted at safety first, with Samir Nasri on the bench. — BBC.
Online Reporter