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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Comments
He is.technically inept for a person of his experience. No wonder the Welsh team never goes far.
At 21 players should at least show some quality , vision or acceptable standards.
He has shown repeated failure.
Bad passes. Slow. No vision. Selfish. Misses.
Slows the whole team!
All blogs, twitter, podcasts are talking about selling him.
Finally majority who were scared to say the truth have united.
Sell him to United so we can beat them next year!
How people accept such low standards is shocking.
7 years dry and being fooled by 3rd or 4th every year and prem league only getting harder.
A time to build a real squad with a much better experienced bench means players like Ramsy must be sold ASAP!
Midfield is the most fiercely competitive position for arsenal players.
With jack and Diaby back next season, a possible extra proper signing, Rosicky amazing form, Gervinho and wilcot improvements, all means Ramsy will be bench warming, cleaning shoes or making tea.
Now let's hope he doesn't screw that up as well.
Sell that welsh prat. An insult to arsenal, football and quality!
Makes Denilson look good !!
THIS IS TOP LEVEL FOOTBALL !!
Enough emotional rubbish just because he broke a leg and is welsh!
This player would never be bought by United or City!
He will NEVER make it at arsenal !!
How blind are some arsenal fans!
Instead of buying amazing players we keep protecting such rubbish and regret the misses he keeps making every week !
Anyone who supports Ramsy is a spurs fan enjoying the way this player is keeping us down !
7 straight wins without him.
Every time he comes on we struggle !!!