Aaron Ramsey recently signed a long term deal in the region of 60k a week so you would think he would be in the prime of his career holding down a first term place. Speak to most Arsenal fans and they will paint you a different picture, this season Ramsey and Gervinho have been the figures that most Arsenal fans frustration has been directed towards.
Ramsey has started just 11 games this season and has more substitute appearances then starts with 12 appearances off the bench. He has often been deployed on the wing which is as much a mystery to the Arsenal crowd as it is to the pundits and bloggers that comment upon Arsenal. Brought in as a central midfielder from Cardiff City for £5 million Ramsey was seen as a central midfielder with a great engine supplemented by a wide range of passing and the ability to score the occasional pearler.
In the 2009-10 season he began to fulfill his promise and held down a starting place before a Shawcross initiated leg-break put an end to Ramsey’s breakthrough season. In 2010-11 when he made his comeback he was obviously not at the level he was before and was loaned out to Cardiff and Nottingham Forest to regain his match sharpness.
With the sales of Nasri and Fabregas in the summer of 2011 and the long term injury to Jack Wilshere, Ramsey was chosen in the role just behind the striker for the 2011 season. He struggled to assert himself in games and was earning appearances merely due to the fact Arsenal lacked other options, however at Christmas with Rosicky returning from injury Ramsey was usurped and Rosicky had a great last 6 months dictating play despite not getting on the scoresheet often. At the end of the season Ramsey began to appear as one of the 2 infront of the defence but after a poor performance at Norwich he was replaced by Coquelin for the last game of the season versus West Brom.
This season has seen him deployed at wide with Wenger trying to recreate the Benayoun effect of aiding Arsenal in retaining possesion. However Ramsey is no winger or no Benayoun, he lacks the pace or trickery to beat players and is an average crosser. His tendency to come infield into a more congested central park is not what Arsenal needed but Wenger saw something the fans didn’t and tried this tactic numerous times. Fortunately it seems Wenger has realised this now and as of late Oxlade-Chamberlain has been impressive on the right flank securing himself a well deserved goal against Newcastle.
Ramsey is in a tricky position, his good overall play is built to be a central midfielder in a 4-4-2, a formation Arsenal do not play anymore. He is not defensively adept enough to play where Arteta plays and nor does he have the ability to carry the ball in the position Diaby and Wilshere have played this season. Of the three central midfield positins CAM probably suits him best but with the addition of Cazorla and Rosicky returning from injury Ramsey will find little to no game time there. At the moment the only game time he is receiving is outwide as a substitute to add Arsenal hold on to a lead. Coquelin often comes on as a substitute in the centre to help shield the defence and it won’t be long before Rosicky returns.
I feel if Rosicky maintains fitness he could be the death of Ramsey, he has the ability to beat players and plays at a higher tempo which suits Arsenal. Not only is he a better Central midfielder but he can player the technical winger role in a similar manner to Benayoun and when he does come in off the wing he does it to great effect often picking up the ball before finding a player in space.
Ramsey was a player who once had so much potential but I fail to see him ever breaking into the first team squad of Arsenal, yes he is a useful squad player and would like to keep him though I do not think he deserves 60k a week. I just feel Ramsey will always be on the bench and with talened youngsters like Coquelin, Eisfield and Aneke in the centre of the park Ramsey may eventually be forced to leave the club. He lost the Wales captaincy recently, which is in part due to the fact he is not a regular at Arsenal.
I’d be interested to know your views. For more Arsenal news and pieces follow me @ArsenalMez
spot on article! dont know why Wenger isnt getting rosicky on instead he needs time after his injury
yeah when he brought on ramsey with 15 to go against newcastle I was surprised he didn’t bring on rosicky instead. Rosicky has the potential to improve Cazorla number 1 with competition and number 2 with the ability to be rested as cazorla form has dropped slightly since he has had to play every game. Rosicky’s versatility could be vital over next few months.
Ramsey is not good enough to be a starter on a top 4 team. As a starter, Arsenal consistently drop points. As a late substitute or non-player Arsenal do much better at picking up 3 points. This is not an opinion, but a statistical fact. Over the last year and a half Arsenal do much better the less he plays. I can’t say why they signed him to a long term deal, but he does not have a positive impact on the team. He would be a good fit for a mid-level or lower Premier League team, but he is certainly not good enough to win trophies with unless he is just used as a depth player or substitute.
if we see beyond what we are seeing now like wenger we will know ramsey have a bright future ahead of him.i still have trust in him he only needs our support even though he is not in his best but am sure he will be the one of the player to count on very soon and he has been doing well whenever he is brouth on this season too so dont let us blame him so much
ramsey has become a shadow of the player he used to be. before he got injured he was keeping wilshire out. he needs form and playing time. i dont no if he will be the same after hes leg break he hasnt come back strong like wilshire and hes been back for a season now. unfortunately looks like another diaby or eduardo story.
fuck sake im tired of those stories happening at Arsenal…
Slightly confused, what do you mean these stories? Are you saying about me questioning Ramsey. I think I wrote a respectful piece just saying I see his chances as being limited due to fact he isn’t a winger and there are better players ahead of him for central midfield place. I say he is a useful squad player but doubt he will make the first team and think as he may want first team he may move elsewhere?
im tired of our players getting injured horribly and because of that never recovering (Eduardo, Diaby and Ramsey)
The board is the biggest arsenals problem…
Ramsey takes 60 and they dont give theo more than 80 so if theo leave as nasri or persie did dont blame him…they give chamack 60 squllacci 40 and said that they run the club in a healthy way…kroenke gazidis out now
I do not know that why fans always think they know better than Wenger, I strongly believe Wenger in most of the time have very sharp judgement when it is about player and we al always try to come with every unprofessional judgement or comments against him, one day we want Theo another day we want him out Gervinho is good when he scor goal but when he miss he is bad buy!!!!!!!!!!! Give Wenger break and let him does what he is standing for and believe me most of us do not know what we are talking about. I am sure there is many of fans get angry of this comment but i am tired of listen to them too. If Ramsy get 60k a week i am sure they give it to him becaus he is worth it otherwise every body knows in Arsenal they do not give money too easy to player. It’s easy to sit outside and criticize every body but could you do better than them??? and every club has lot of flop why Arsenal should be exception, In this business is there always lot of surprises. What i want to say give the man some credit i am sure he deserve it after al he has done for this club.
Ramsey should not be played as long as Rosisky is in good shape