Danny Welbeck could be only Arsenal man in England squad for Euro 2016, despite proud Three Lions history for Arsene Wenger
Gunners’ not-so magnificent seven English players could soon be Goners
Sponsored by
ARSENE WENGER used to love reeling off the names of all the England players at Arsenal.
The Frenchman would boast about safeguarding the international future of his adopted country.
Yet there is a chance Danny Welbeck could be the ONLY Gunner in Roy Hodgson’s Euro squad this summer.
When Wilshere suffered a fractured shin on the eve of the new season, we were assured he would be back by Christmas.
But the metal plate in his shin has been causing him discomfort.
His appalling injury record means Wenger cannot rely on a player who had been hoping to negotiate a new long-term contract before his latest injury setback.
THEO WALCOTT, AGE: 27 CONTRACT: 2019
It is now more than ten years since Walcott signed for Arsenal — yet the jury is still out on the club’s longest-serving player.
He will not be short of offers if he decides to move this summer but his £7million-a-year wages would be a major stumbling block.
ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN, AGE: 22 CONTRACT: 2018
Like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s progress has been hampered by a series of injuries — and he is again sidelined.
Yet even when he is fit, the Ox is not guaranteed a place. The fact he has scored only one league goal all season goes some way to explaining why he is behind Joel Campbell and Alex Iwobi in the pecking order.
JACK WILSHERE, AGE: 24 CONTRACT: 2018
When Wilshere suffered a fractured shin on the eve of the new season, we were assured he would be back by Christmas.
But the metal plate in his shin has been causing him discomfort.
His appalling injury record means Wenger cannot rely on a player who had been hoping to negotiate a new long-term contract before his latest injury setback.
KIERAN GIBBS, AGE: 26 CONTRACT: 2018
When Gael Clichy forced his way out of Arsenal in 2011, the club were happy to take Manchester City’s money because they were confident they had a replacement in Gibbs.
Yet predictions the academy graduate could prove to be as affective a left-back as Ashley Cole have proved overly optimistic — and Gibbs is back-up to Nacho Monreal.
CALUM CHAMBERS, AGE: 21 CONTRACT: 2020
Huge things were expected of the defender when he was signed fromSouthampton two years ago in a deal that could rise to £16m.
Wenger has often talked of Chambers’ future being at centre-half — but has shown a marked reluctance to play him there.
CARL JENKINSON, AGE: 24 CONTRACT: 2019
His immediate priority is to recover from the cruciate injury which led to West Ham cancelling his loan deal in January.
But the emergence of Hector Bellerin means he is likely to be looking for a new club when he is over his injury.
DANNY WELBECK, AGE: 25 CONTRACT: 2019
Possibly the only Englishman who can be relaxed about his Arsenal prospects after overcoming his long-standing knee injury.
Welbeck is Arsenal’s most versatile attacker yet even he is not the prolific scorer the club are crying out for.