ARSENAL v BURNLEY WE’RE WELBECK IN RACE FOR THE TITLE
Lowton: Dad said what are Roo up to?
ARSENE WENGER says his Arsenal team have a new tenacity this season – and the return of Danny Welbeck will give their Premier League title push a crucial cutting edge.
Arsenal face Burnley at the Emirates this afternoon and Wenger acknowledged that it is the kind of fixture that gave his men problems in the past.
But he has been encouraged by the results against the so-called lesser lights – including a 2-1 win at Burnley earlier in the season.
“I think we are tougher,” said Wenger. “We are certainly more relentless. If you look at the numbers, we are the team that has scored more goals than anyone else in the last five minutes.
“And we are the team that has scored 14 goals with people coming off the bench. So, we also have more attacking weapons. When I look around me at the bench, I always think, ‘If he comes on, he can give you something’.”
And among those has been Welbeck, the 26-year-old striker who has had an Arsenal career plagued by injury.
He made his comeback after eight months, following his latest setback, and came on in the 2-1 win against Preston in the FA Cup and then again against Swansea in the 4-0 Premier League win.
Wenger is convinced Welbeck (right) could have been a major asset to England in the European Championships last summer. “You cannot stop people from thinking, ‘If Welbeck was there, he would have helped us to win against Iceland’.
“He has a fantastic spirit and you do not see people with that. People sense this, that he has a great spirit. He is genuine, committed and humble. You do not find that too many times altogether.
“He has pace, he has good technique. He wants to help the team. And he is a good finisher.”
Welbeck is so keen to return to match fitness that Wenger has to rein him in at times.
Barrier
“It was bone inflammation that he had and that takes a huge time to get rid of completely,” said Wenger. “You have to be very careful not to have a setback.”
But Welbeck, as Wenger sees it, has overcome the psychological barrier after his lay-off.
“Is he over it? Yes. Some players come back and behave like they have never been injured. Danny is one of them.
“In his first training session, you say, ‘Come on – don’t go in for too much contact straight away’. But he is like that.”
Welbeck is certain to be involved against Burnley and Wenger stressed the importance of the game.
“We speak about Burnley, 10th in the league. It is a typical game where last year we dropped points.
“We can’t afford to and that is the challenge.” BURNLEY boss Sean Dyche is not averse to dishing out the hard word when it is needed.
But Burnley defender Matt Lowton (left) has revealed that his dad Dave does not mess about either.
Lowton copped an earful from his England-loving dad while playing for Aston Villa when he crocked Wayne Rooney and forced the Manchester United star out of a Three Lions game in 2012. “I remember when I was at Villa and we lost to Manchester United having been 2-0 ahead. I tackled Rooney and put him out of the England game the next week. My dad wasn’t happy!” said Lowton.
“It wasn’t a foul, I think Rooney caught his toe. But I got a rollicking off my dad.“
Dave won’t be too bothered if his lad leaves his mark on Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal today as Burnley go in search of their first away win in the League this season.
Nor will 27-year-old right-back Lowton, who has revealed he is not fazed by anyone in the star-studded Premier League.
“At Arsenal, I’ll probably be up against Sanchez because he’s been playing on the left,” he said.
“It’ll be tough and you pinch yourself sometimes when you’re playing against some of the best players in the world.
“But whoever they are has to go out of the window. I’ve got a job to do, so for 95 minutes I can’t have too much respect for them.”