Why Arsenal's Title Hopes Fall on the Shoulders of Danny Welbeck

The time is now for Danny Welbeck.

Having completed a shock £16 million move from Manchester United to Arsenal on transfer deadline day, the man previously clamouring to step out from the shadows now has the opportunity to thrust himself into the spotlight.

The expectations placed on the England forward are higher than ever, and he has to show he can shoulder them. But the pressure will only grow until he starts providing the goals he was bought to supply.

And that's not only for the good of his individual career. His new club are depending on him to be the difference, the man who can turn one point into three. But if he doesn't start firing soon, Arsenal will be out of the Premier League title race before they know it.

The Gunners' nine-year wait to win a trophy ended last season when Aaron Ramsey's goal beat Wigan in the FA Cup final. And while Ramsey's own renaissance can teach Welbeck a thing or two, Arsene Wenger has bigger fish to fry in the 2014/15 season. The Frenchman wants to taste league success.

It is the true test of a manager and his squad. Being the best team over an entire season does not come easy, but Arsenal are already falling behind. And Welbeck is already guilty of fluffing his lines.

As Ian Herbert of The Independent reports, Welbeck's stay at Old Trafford ended after former manager Louis van Gaal deemed his goal record as below standard. Welbeck's history of roughly one goal in every four games was not enough for the Dutchman, especially comparing his figures to his former United compatriots.

"He played three seasons at Manchester United after [returning from loan at] Sunderland, but he doesn’t have the record of Van Persie or Rooney and that is the standard," Van Gaal said. "That is why we let him go."

While cases can be made that Welbeck rarely played as an out-and-out striker during his spell in the United first team, he has yet to show the killer instinct a true top-class Premier League striker needs.

On Matchday 4, 23-year-old Welbeck was given his first Arsenal start in their toughest test of the season to date, as Manchester City visited the Emirates Stadium. His opportunity to put the Gunners in the lead came 11 minutes into his debut, but despite a confident chipped finish over City goalkeeper Joe Hart, the ball rebounded back against the post and into Hart's hands. It was the case in point.

The match went on to end 2-2, and Arsenal had blown yet another chance to topple a direct title rival. It was not the time for Welbeck to show finesse. The ball needed to be buried in Hart's goal. Had it gone in, the plaudits would have come, but Welbeck needs to learn that it's better to be safe than sorry.

That miss did nothing to prevent The Evening Standard pundit Paul Scholes from dismissing Welbeck's ability to become the cream of the Arsenal crop, via Charles Perrin of the Express: 

I rate him [Welbeck] as a player but I have said before that he is a 10-15 goals a season striker, rather than a 25 goals a season man.

He needs to practise his finishing more. As a striker you really do suffer for missing chances.

The absence of Olivier Giroud until the new year does nothing to help Welbeck's cause. It is make-or-break time. If he fails to find his goalscoring touch in the next few weeks, Arsenal will likely be too far behind in the table to catch up. The players behind him are failing to fire, so it's his job to make the difference.

It is a baptism of fire for Welbeck, but he cannot expect anything less if he wants to distinguish himself.

Going into Saturday's clash with Aston Villa, Wenger's cohorts already trail league leaders Chelsea by six points. And it will not be easy to turn over in-form Villa, who beat Liverpool at Anfield last time out.

Premier League aside, Welbeck and Arsenal are even further away from winning their first-ever Champions League trophy this season. Their midweek performance in the 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund was an abject capitulation. Welbeck even spurned another first-half chance to put Arsenal ahead in Germany.

But while the pressure is on, Wenger is playing it safe. As experienced as he is, now is not the time to be asking for patience with his new striker. But that's exactly what he proceeded to do following the Dortmund drubbing, according to the Press Association, via The Guardian.

"He had a very lively first half," Wenger said. "He had two or three good chances but couldn't finish them. There was one obvious one. We have to be patient with him."

It is all a far cry from Welbeck's last England outing, when his two goals put tough opponents Switzerland to the sword in their opening Euro 2016 qualifying match. But that match is proof that he can deliver when the pressure is on. The brace showed Welbeck does boast the characteristics of a predatory striker. Wenger needs to coax them out—and fast.

More of the same is needed, and time is of the essence.

Welbeck needs to break his Arsenal duck and get among the goals; otherwise, he faces the prospect of becoming another England international who fails on the biggest stage. And it's hard to argue that there haven't been many of them.

But for the good of Welbeck and his new club, he needs to step up to ensure Arsenal don't once again end a season empty handed.

Your call, Danny.