Arsenal have three options to fill the Danny Welbeck void… and one will remind fans of Nwankwo Kanu
Welbeck is likely out for the season with a sickening ankle injury leaving the Gunners short in their attacking ranks
THE dust has settled on the Danny Welbeck injury and it looks certain the England forward is out for the rest of the season.
That means Raul Sanllehi and Sven Mislintat have important recruitment decisions to make before the January window.
They have a few options… the most obvious and least expensive one is to give Eddie Nketiah a chance to make the position of impact sub his own.
The issue here is if we pick up one or two untimely injuries, meaning a total rookie becomes the main hope in the push for lucrative Champions League spot.
We could also call back Reiss Nelson. The teenager is tearing up the Bundesliga this season, becoming an integral part of Julian Nagelsmann’s setup at Hoffenheim.
We could recall him, but is that a smart move when he’s still so young and clearly learning a lot? Likely not.
The reality is Arsenal are flying high and performing to a higher standard than most expected.
Therefore there’s strong indication that the club will gamble on a signing with Champions League qualification looking more likely than it did in August.
One of the hottest leads we have for Welbeck cover appears to be Nicolas Pepe at high flying Lille.
The rumoured price tag is £27million, which seems steep, but remember, this is the club that gave the world Eden Hazard (shhh, no one remembers Gervinho).
The player looks to have many of the ingredients Arsenal lack. He’s a true wide player, so we’d not be plugging a square peg in a round hole.
He’s 6ft tall, light on his feet, and very good at using his weight to control possession.
His touch and skill on the ball will take Arsenal fans back to the Kanu days. Imagine the Nigerian’s silk on the ball, but at pace.
Pepe is also productive, this season alone he’s played 13 games, has eight goals and seven assists to his name.
Last season, in which Lille finished a dismal 17th, he contributed 36 starts, 13 goals, and five assists. The Ivorian really could be the real deal.
The big question is whether a high flying-French team that can smell Champions League football would risk losing one of their stars in January.
There are other options around Europe, but it’s important the club don’t lumber themselves with a duff short-term signing we’ll have to live with for years.
If it’s not quality, make an internal promotion. If there’s a chance we can upgrade, the club should jump at the chance and double down on making our top four dream a reality.