I got in a bit of trouble the other day, when I made some comments about Aaron Ramsey in my player ratings for the City match. I called for his sale and described his poor performances as the norm these days.

Now perhaps I’d been rash. I don’t really enjoy looking stupid, so I decided to look further into the Welsh captain, and perhaps change my opinions.

Promising Beginnings

Aaron Ramsey signed for Arsenal in 2008, and gave some reasonably impressive performances, including a goal in a 5-2 victory at Fenerbahce, being one of the youngest scorers in the Champions League. Arsene Wenger has always been very confident in his abilities, but that didn’t stop him being sent out on loan to Nottingham Forest and then Cardiff City, his old club, until January 2011.

A Fairly Major Obstacle

To be fair, this was partially because he received a horrible leg break from Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City RUFC, and needed time to recover in a less high-pressure environment.  He did his time away from Arsenal, and then returned just in time for a late-season collapse. This, ironically, was Ramsey’s best form in an Arsenal shirt, capped by the winner against Manchester United.

The Story Today

This season, he’s often been guilty of slowing down play and not being quite sure about his passing. That combined with some dreadful missed chances such as the one against City and also several in the game at Everton, which he could have had a couple in, have certainly cemented his opinion as a liability for Arsenal this season, with me and a few others groaning whenever he comes on.

Many are saying that he needs time to improve, that a long injury lay-off and the tragic death of his manager Gary Speed, who put so much trust in him to make him Wales captain at just 20, has impacted on his performances. Perhaps it has. But I don’t think even if he got better than he’d be Arsenal standard.

Verdict

He’s not awful. He’s pretty good, even if it’s unclear what midfield position he plays in (Defence? Attack? Linking?). But the quality of Arsenal’s other midfielders, especially with the imminent return of Jack Wilshere and the sudden recovery of Tomas Rosicky, means that he won’t get any game time, apart from as injury cover.

For a Champions League side like Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey isn’t quite at the level. But only a step down, say a side like Everton or perhaps Swansea, and he’d shine. That’s why Arsenal should sell him. To give him a career.

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