Plastic pitch rules Danny Welbeck out of Arsenal's Sutton tie
Sunday 19 February 2017 15:33, UK
Danny Welbeck will play no part in Arsenal's FA Cup tie at Sutton because of the non-league side's artificial pitch.
Welbeck was named in Arsenal's Under-23 side for Sunday's game at Leicester barely 24 hours before the senior team play at Gander Green Lane in a fifth-round tie.
His inclusion sparked an angry response from some supporters on social media who questioned why the striker was not being considered for a recall in the wake of Wednesday's heavy defeat at Bayern Munich.
But Welbeck, who returned from an eight-month absence only last month, says his history of knee injuries is the reason.
"Glad to get 70 minutes today to build up my match fitness," he wrote on Twitter. "Plastic pitch at Sutton isn't the best idea at the moment."
Welbeck scored twice in a 5-0 win at Southampton in the fourth round but was unable to prevent the young Gunners slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Leicester.
