Welbeck’s fairytale return sours dream for Leicester
After 10 months out injured, Danny Welbeck took barely 10 minutes on his return from surgery to score a precious goal for Arsenal.
Arsenal's Danny Welbeck in action against Leicester's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. Photo: GERRY PENNY, EPA.
The striker’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured a 2-1 victory over 10-man Leicester on Sunday, cutting the surprise Premier League frontrunner’s lead over the London club to two points.
“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me, missing a lot of football … it was difficult,” Welbeck said. “To get that winning goal is a beautiful feeling.”
Leicester was leading through Jamie Vardy’s 45th-minute penalty at the Emirates Stadium when Danny Simpson received two yellow cards in the opening nine minutes of the second half.
Arsenal had failed to register a shot on target at that stage, but Arsene Wenger’s substitutions delivered as intended as the hosts exploited their man advantage.
I have a dream but I don’t tell you what I dream
Theo Walcott equalised with 20 minutes to go and Welbeck, who replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 83rd minute, headed in Mesut Ozil’s free kick on his return from left knee surgery.
“In the last two training sessions he was very strong,” Wenger said.
“Everyone is extremely happy for [Welbeck] because he has been out for 10 months, which is an eternity for a player.”
It ensured Arsenal became the first team to complete the double this season over Leicester, who have only lost three times in the league to gatecrash the elite after narrowly surviving relegation last year.
This loss punctures the cautious optimism building at Leicester that it could win the top prize in English football for the first time in its 132-year history.
But Leicester has still collected six points from a possible nine in the last two weeks, having beaten Liverpool and Manchester City.
And while top-four rivals Arsenal, Tottenham and City have European and FA Cup games over the next seven days, Leicester has two clear weeks until the league resumes.
Ranieri is giving his players a week off from the club to escape the freezing conditions and mounting expectation at home.”I said to [the players], ‘Don’t worry. It’s OK. You are top of the league with two points more,”‘ Ranieri said.
“They go, I don’t know where. Dubai? Wherever they want.
“Our fans are dreaming. I think a lot of you [reporters] are dreaming because also for you it’s good if Leicester win the title,” Ranieri said.
“I have a dream but I don’t tell you what I dream.”
-AP
