Was Danny Welbeck a good sale to Arsenal?

As the weekend draws nearer, Manchester United prepare to face old boy Danny Welbeck, safe in the knowledge that the England international hasn’t quite had the season he’s hoped with his former employers top flight rivals.

A £16 million move to the Gunners hasn’t seen Welbeck live up to his price tag, with only four goals amassed in 25 league appearances for the club. You could argue though that this is somewhat better value for money than the likes of replacement forward, Radamel Falcao.

But I’m not here to analyse the Colombian’s situations as so many are doing at present, after all, what good has it done? Although, perhaps if I do the same for Arsenal’s number 23 then it may null the threat he poses on Sunday.

Despite being laden with niggles for the 2014/15 campaign, statistics show us that, ironically, the man in question had pulled on the jersey for the Red Devils 25 times last term and netting five more times. Not only did Welbeck’s qualities as a striker surpass what they have at the Emirates – now possessing a 7% strike rate in comparison to that of 20% to his name during his time at Old Trafford – but his all round game was improved. A deteriorated pass completion down from 87% to 72%, was the 24-year-old settled in Manchester? It would certainly make sense, having been born and raised in the city.

You can only put his non-prolific season down to his knee to a certain extent. In fact, his rather tender years suggest despite more jeering than cheering, it could have been beneficial to keep hold of youngster-ish.

Money is seemingly no object when it comes to supplying Louis van Gaal with the goods, but his sale did free up some funds to pursue bigger and better horizons. On the face of it, Welbeck did not have a patch on the earlier mentioned number nine (who could have even lined up alongside Danny), but to now be linked with Edinson Cavani’s sort leaves no comparison to be made.

Personally, I believe Welbeck’s exit was imminent and ideal for United. Even under David Moyes, the striker was evidently surplus to requirements and although Sir Alex Ferguson may have kept him and possibly opted for a loan move instead, the Reds’ academy product was not going to leave the desperately deleting past tweets when banging them in if he was just tagging along for a ride out and observing from the dugout.

The Manchester United faithful need not fear if their ex-player turns up at four o’clock on Sunday though as it’s a known occurrence that the lads perform against their bygones in an attempt to silence those that once chanted their name (or not so much in this case).