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Wenger - Why Welbeck can play wide

Danny Welbeck

Danny Welbeck's "preferential vision" makes him an effective player on the left, according to Arsene Wenger.

Welbeck has started his Arsenal career as a centre forward, scoring five goals in all competitions so far. That is the England international's preferred position but he can also operate in a wider role and could feature there if Olivier Giroud is played through the middle.

Wenger has not ruled out deploying a 4-4-2 formation with Giroud and Welbeck but he believes the latter has the attributes to play on the left.

"We all have preferential vision and sometimes players see better on their right and sometimes players see better on the left"

Arsene Wenger

"He played there at a young age and when you play football you get habits in the position you play," said Wenger. "You feel at home a little bit… comfortable. He looks comfortable there because he knows what to do.

"It is linked sometimes with your preferential vision as well. We all have preferential vision and sometimes players see better on their right and sometimes players see better on the left. So when you have better right vision and you play on the left, you see the whole pitch."

Wenger has previously made the same point about Robert Pires, who was deadly from his starting role on the left. Welbeck is a different type of player to Pires but his manager believes he will still score goals if he shifts from his central role.

"I think you have players who play on the flanks who score goals," said Wenger. "I don’t think that will stop him from scoring. He had chances the other night when he played on the left.

"Cristiano Ronaldo played all his life on the flanks and scored more goals than games he played. So I don’t think that will stop [Welbeck].

"Recently we played 4-4-2 with Alexis and Welbeck up front and in some games you adapt. He is adaptable - the modern player is adaptable. Alexis can play wide left and wide right as well as through the middle. Welbeck as well.

"It is so important on the flanks to have pace and work rate, so sometimes in some games you have to put them there because they can absorb the quantity and the quality of the work."

 

Danny Welbeck

 

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