Pirate Galaxy » ise. Darren Sproles, the 33-yea

Arsenals struggles in front of goal have been a glaring issue throughout the season. Could the returning Danny Welbeck be the man to freshen up their misfiring attack? We take a look ahead of his return to Old Trafford on Super Sunday... A familiar theme emerged from Arsene Wengers terse press conference at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. The Arsenal manager had just watched his sides Champions League hopes all but ended by Barcelona, and after lamenting their late defensive lapses, the questioning turned to their profligacy in front of goal.The way we finished our chances was a problem today, he said. In the final third, at the moment, we miss something. The Frenchman highlighted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains failure to convert an unbelievable chance in the first half, but Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud were also guilty of spurning clear opportunities before Lionel Messi took over. Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have struggled in front of goal in recent weeks After recent blanks against Hull, Southampton, Chelsea and Stoke, Arsenal have now failed to score in five games out of eight for the first time since early 2009. It is a deeply troubling statistic, but even more worrying for Arsenal is that the lack of cutting edge has been an issue right from the start of the season. Gunners conundrum With Arsenal facing another Champions League exit , what must they change? The Gunners have been comfortably outscored by Premier League title rivals Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City, and they have only netted fewer than 41 goals after 26 games in three of Wengers 20 campaigns in charge. Arsenal rank third in the Premier League for efforts on goal and chances created, but their shot conversion rate of 14.09 per cent puts them down in 10th. Top four shot conversion comparison Team Shots on goal (PL rank) Goals (PL rank) Shot conversion (PL rank) Leicester 264 (7th) 48 (1st) 18.18% (1st) Tottenham 301 (2nd) 47 (2nd) 15.61% (4th) Arsenal 291 (3rd) 41 (4th) 14.09% (10th) Man City 309 (1st) 48 (1st) 15.53% (6th) A deeper look at the statistics throws up even more compelling evidence that finishing has become a chronic issue for Wengers men. Sixty-four of the 331 chances they have created are defined as clear-cut opportunities by Opta. Thats 20 more than any other Premier League side, and only two short of the highest number managed by any club over the whole of last season. What is a clear-cut chance? Opta define a clear-cut chance as a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, such as a one-on-one or a close-range effort. The problem, however, is that Arsenal have only managed to convert 26 of those 64 opportunities. So despite being streets ahead of their rivals in terms of creativity, the Gunners rank 19th in the Premier League for clear-cut chance conversion on just 32.5 per cent. Only relegation-threatened Swansea have been more wasteful. Top four clear-cut chance comparison Team Clear-cut chances created (PL rank) Clear-cut chance conversion (PL rank) Leicester 44 (2nd) 43.55% (5th) Tottenham 39 (4th) 48.15% (2nd) Arsenal 64 (1st) 32.50% (19th) Man City 40 (3rd) 37.29% (15th) Arsenal have consequently averaged just 1.58 goals per game in the Premier League this season, and they will finish the campaign on 60 goals if they continue scoring at the same rate. History suggests that wont be enough, with Manchester Uniteds total of 67 in 1992/93 the lowest for a title-winning side in Premier League history.Wenger has described finishing as cyclical, but the issue evidently runs deeper than that. And yet, when the Frenchman was questioned about signing a new striker in January, his response was to talk up the impending return of Danny Welbeck. His comments received a lukewarm reception, but the England forward has certainly provided some encouragement. Welbeck celebrates with Walcott and Giroud after scoring against Leicester Wenger talked about small steps when discussing Welbecks comeback at the end of last month, but the 25-year-old has been hurriedly making up for lost time. He marked his first appearance in 10 months with a dramatic winner against Leicester, and it wouldnt have been surprising to see him start against Barcelona after an eye-catching performance in Arsenals goalless draw with Hull.Welbeck was full of energy and intent before his 67th-minute substitution against Steve Bruces team, and there were flashes of his quality, too. He created two scoring opportunities for his team-mates and forced a stunning save from Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic with one curling effort, and 24 of his 25 passes found a team-mate.The Gunners are in dire need of fresh impetus in attack as their Premier League campaign gets back underway, and while the likes of Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are suffering from a glaring lack of confidence in front of goal, Welbeck looks hungrier and sharper than ever. Welbeck takes the applause from the Arsenal crowd His Premier League scoring record may be a modest 31 goals in 144 appearances, but he showed a ruthless streak with six goals in seven games for England last season, and his pace and work-rate make him well-suited to playing anywhere in the front three. Soccer Saturday pundit Charlie Nicholas is a big admirer, and hes expecting a shake-up in the weeks ahead.Giroud is not playing well, the former Arsenal forward told Sky Sports. His choice of passing has been poor, hes too static, hes not getting in enough scoring positions and if hes not scoring goals then he shouldnt be starting. Welbecks movement and speed gives more options to Mesut Ozil. It was fantastic to see him come back and score the winner against Leicester after so long out. Welbeck shows his delight after scoring in Arsenals FA Cup win over Man Utd last season As Arsenal prepare for Sundays crucial clash with Manchester United, an injury to Oxlade-Chamberlain has raised the possibility of Welbeck making his first Premier League start since March at Old Trafford, where he scored Arsenals winner in last years FA Cup quarter-final.Wenger needs an injection of something different in attack to avoid their Premier League campaign heading the same way as the Champions League. A refreshed and reinvigorated Welbeck looks like the right man for the job.Watch Manchester United v Arsenal live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1pm on Sunday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Arsenal video Arsenal fixtures Get a ￡10 free bet! Arsenal stats Cheap Nike Free . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Free Sale . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. http://www.nikefreediscount.com/ .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Nike Free Outlet Store . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Nike Free Discount . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Heading into their rookie seasons as NFL head coaches, Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles and Ben McAdoo of the New York Giants knew there is a lot more to it than drawing up game plans, changing personnel and make those key late-game decisions.There is the non-football stuff, too. Both men have had to deal with that, even heading into this weeks game Sunday.The Eagles and Giants both go into the NFC East rivalry game with 4-3 records, two games behind first-place Dallas with nine games to go. The chance is there to get back to the playoffs.Of course, they have to have to play better and avoid more injuries. Then there is the other stuff.Lets start with McAdoo, the 39-year-old former offensive coordinator who got the job when Tom Coughlin left after missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year.McAdoo has had to deal with Odell Beckham Jr.s tantrums; the one-game suspension of Josh Brown in the wake of a domestic abuse charge, and later his release after the kickers prolonged history of domestic violence was disclosed; and left tackle Ereck Flowers pushing incident with a reporter after a game in Green Bay.You knew going in that there were going to be dumpster fires every day and you deal with them as they come, McAdoo said. A lot of things cross your desk that you dont want to deal with, but it is part of the job and you handle it and you move on. You stay consistent, you stay in the moment, and you keep everyones best interest in mind.Pederson has had his share of problems, the most recent the arrest of receiver Josh Huff . He was charged Tuesday with possession of a handgun without a permit and having a small amount of marijuana after he was pulled over for speeding in New Jersey.Pederson spent almost 11 minutes Wednesday answering questions about Huff and the arrest instead of talking about the game with the Giants. Huff was released on Thursday.There was also Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham, who faces a misdemeanor concealed weapons charge after he was caught carrying a loaded gun at a Miami airport on Oct. 2.Its kind of like youre the father of your house. You just got to keep talking to . your kids and just keep reiterating the importance of who you represent, what you represent, your families, the Philadelphia Eagles, and you got to make smart choices, Pederson said. Its all about choices and consequences in life. If you make bad choices, youve got to suffer the consequences. So, well just continue to keep talking about it.The coaches also are being forced to be the face of the organization. Giants management has refused to talk to beat reporters abbout the incidents, leaving McAdoo to be the voice of the franchise, just as Pederson was this week for the Eagles.dddddddddddd.Its probably not what they expected when they decided to head into coaching.Other things to watch Sunday:SAFETY ISSUES: The Giants hoped to come out of their bye week at full health, particularly at free safety. Nat Berhe (concussion) and Darian Thompson (foot) were expected back. Berhe was still in the protocol and Thompson had a setback Wednesday. Expect former free agent Andrew Adams to make his fifth straight start.DINK AND DUNK: Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz completed 32 passes for 202 yards against Dallas, averaging 4.7 yards. Hes last in the NFL, averaging 4.97 yards per completion. The only time the Eagles threw deep against the Cowboys came when Huff caught a backward toss and fired downfield 30 yards to Jordan Matthews, who couldnt make a tough catch. They have only one offensive play for more than 30 yards in the past four games. We have to figure out and find ways to get the ball, obviously, down the field, Pederson said.LAST CARRYING THE ROCK: If the Giants offense is going to wake up, Eli Manning and the receivers are going to have to do the job. The running game is last in the NFL, averaging 70.3 yards. In the previous four games, New York has gained 78, 43, 38 and 36 yards on 70 carries. Rookie Paul Perkins may get more carries this week.COMMITTEE OF BACKS : Pederson insists Ryan Mathews is the No. 1 back and he hasnt lost confidence in him. The stats say otherwise. Darren Sproles, the 33-year-old scatback, led the Eagles with 86 yards rushing on 15 carries vs. Dallas. Mathews, who fumbled twice in the fourth quarter in the past four games, got only four carries. Rookie Wendell Smallwood had a costly fumble on his only carry in the fourth quarter. Kenjon Barner ran three times for 9 yards.TIGHT ENDS: Eagles tight ends have had career days against the Giants. Zach Ertz had nine catches for a career-high 152 yards in January. However, the Giants defense has improved this season, particularly strong safety Landon Collins. So dont be surprised if Ertz is covered. New Yorks tight end have done little. Larry Donnell fumbled early two games ago and the group has not helped much in the run game. There is always the chance New York goes extensively with four wideouts.---AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '