Minutes on the pitch
Welbeck: 696 Van Persie: 848
This statistic is critical. You simply cannot become a top player, never mind a top striker, if you keep getting injured. The best people out there somehow manage to stay off the treatment table, whether through being blessed with a resilient frame with muscles that don't often succumb to strains, or a mind-set that ignores the odd minor niggle. And as a striker, only by making yourself available match after match can you attain the goal figures to compete with the best. In this regard, Van Persie has endured more than his fair share of injury problems down the years, only shaking off the 'sicknote' tag in recent seasons. But amid all the tinkering under Van Gaal, the manager's compatriot has proved a constant, only missing one league game, the first of the campaign.
It has been a similar story for Welbeck who, since arriving at the Emirates, has started every league game. Van Persie only beats him in minutes played because Welbeck was still with United for the first few matches. And with Olivier Giroud injured, Arsene Wenger hasn't hesitated to continually pick his £16m signing.
Shooting Accuracy
Welbeck: 47 per cent Van Persie: 59 per cent
Van Persie holds the upper hand. He shows a great capacity for, at the very least, making the goalkeeper work by hitting the target, especially when the ball falls on to that deadly left foot. He even managed to neatly tuck away a chance with his right peg against West Ham, showing very good awareness in the process. Welbeck has been accused in the past of not being a natural finisher, a claim given added credence when he wastes good opportunities by fluffing his lines in front of goal - as he memorably did on his debut against Manchester City. The numbers don't lie. The difference in percentage between the two players is quite revealing. It is something the Arsenal man must address in the coming months. If he can't, it will be very difficult to move forward and finally become known as a reliable finisher.
Touches in the opposition's box
Welbeck: 60 Van Persie: 50
An interesting disparity here, given that Van Persie has seen the most action. One explanation is Arsenal's intricate style of play, which sometimes leads them to over-pass a little instead of letting fly at goal. As a result, their attacking players tend to see more of the ball in those advanced areas than they otherwise might. But Welbeck is very good at linking the play, as well as protecting the ball under pressure in tight areas. Though Van Persie can do that pretty well too, he has developed a more direct style, which involves peeling off defenders into space, asking for the early pass. And if he gets it, he won't hang about. This is a striker who sees the picture very quickly, a snap shot or first-time lay-off being two favourite options.
Goals
Welbeck: 2 Van Persie: 3
The acid test as far as Welbeck is concerned. His overall game might come on leaps and bounds this season as he benefits, not just from playing more often, but also from lining up in his best position - down the middle. But if he is not scoring on a regular basis, if he is not popping up to notch at crucial moments in the big games, he cannot claim to be a top striker. Let us forget, for a moment, about his England goals and a Champions League hat-trick against Galatasaray. Two league goals - one against Hull City, the other against Aston Villa - are not much reward for nearly 700 minutes of playing time. Welbeck must now aim for the figures registered by Van Persie, first for Arsenal (30 league goals in 11/12) and then for United (24 the following season). If he can get anywhere near, he will have done very well. As for Van Persie, there must be a doubt that he can ever recreate those glory days. With only three goals himself, the 31 year-old has started slowly under Louis van Gaal, with the number of new faces clearly not helping. In fairness, the forward is still making good runs, the kind we used to see in his first season at Old Trafford, but those runs, crucially, have not always been spotted. Yet if he stays fit to keep making such moves, it is surely only a matter of time before everything clicks.
Welbeck v Van Persie: Key stats
Who do you think is the more potent threat? Have your say below...
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