Arsenal are in a state of turmoil with their recent struggles and they absolutely need to come out on top in the Europa League at all costs.
It was massive to go 2-0 up at San Siro and while there was every chance of Milan overturning the scoreline and advancing in the next stage of the Europa League at Emirates on Thursday, Arsenal simply proved their mettle and deservedly qualified for the next round.
And during Thursday’s 3-1 win, Danny Welbeck grabbed the headlines but for all wrong reasons. The Gunners trailed to Hakan Calhanoglu’s 35th-minute strike but equalised four minutes later through a Welbeck penalty.
The forward went down in the box after feeling what appeared to be minimal contact from Milan left-back Ricardo Rodriguez. The referee, after consulting the assistant behind the goal, awarded a penalty.
Welbeck converted the spot-kick himself, to cancel out an opening goal from the visitors. Granit Xhaka gave Arsenal 2-1 lead before Welbeck killed the tie to guide Arsenal to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
But Welbeck’s blatant dive caused a furore in the footballing fraternity, giving the Tottenham fans another reason to poke fun at the Gunners.
There is no defending Welbeck’s decision to dive and not only the Spurs fans but also the pundits rightfully slammed the Arsenal forward for going down so easily.
Here we bring you the best reactions from our fan base, to Welbeck’s awful simulation.
Guarantee they’ll be no uproar by the media towards Welbeck. Just save it all for Alli ay lads! 👍🙄
— Luke Herbert (@lukeherbert) 15 March 2018
Danny Welbeck that is shameful. Biggest dive of the season yet arsenal slate Dele Alli for it.
— ً (@MauricioMagic) 15 March 2018
Shocking DIVE for Welbeck and people give Dele Alli stick. #appalling
— Rikki Clarke (@RikkiClarke81) 15 March 2018
All #afc fans moaning at Dele Alli, that dive from Welbeck is worse than anything Alli has ever done, hypocrite warning.
But it’s got his team a penalty so fair enough. He’s done well.
— Kieran Bullworthy (@kieran11788) 15 March 2018
They gave that as a penalty?!!! Are you kidding me 😂😂😂😂😂 I never want to hear Arsenal fans utter a word about Dele Alli ever again!!! What a dive by Welbeck!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Trevor Lloyd (@Trevorlloyd92) 15 March 2018
To anyone who doesn’t watch Danny Welbeck regularly, I can understand why you’d think that was a dive but I can assure you that was quite simply just Danny Welbeck trying to shoot
— Scott (@ocrxB) March 15, 2018
Its a dive end of. You can’t defend that. If that was Dele you’d be going mad.
— Sam Lewis (@SammyBoy23) March 16, 2018
Welbecks was embarrassing though. He tripped himself by the bloke rubbing his arm.
— Tony Hird (@hirdy501) March 16, 2018
Danny welbeck going down. pic.twitter.com/gSY2UGci7C
— Paul Webster (@webofclay) March 15, 2018
You sure that wasn’t Dele Alli? Must’ve been surely….
— Mattyboy (@plumbski) March 15, 2018
Danny Welbeck should be ashamed, appalling dive
— Jake (@JChorlton96) March 15, 2018
