Morning all.
It’s often sad when an Arsenal player leaves the club. Not always though that’s for sure as I’m sure like me, you’ve been glad to see the back of quite a few. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about Aaron Ramsey though. On one hand I think he gives the team something different as he’s certainly a lively player but on the other hand, the tricks, flicks and all that jazz frustrates the heck out of me. His two FA Cup Final goals will probably stick with all Arsenal fans, a few other spectacular goals too but when I say a few, I mean a few. 357 matches, 61 goals. ‘Arsenal and midfielders scoring goals’ are words which don’t go together.
Sadly, I don’t think we’ve seen the best of the Welsh midfielder apart from that one great season when he really was at the top of his game. If he can reach that kind of level again, Juventus are getting a great player at what should be the peak of his career. If not, that £400k a week will be handed over begrudgingly I’m sure. For the player, I really hope it works out. He’ll be playing for one of the best coaches around in Max Allegri who might just teach him more about his own game than Arsene Wenger or Unai Emery ever could. Ramsey will certainly be surrounded by quality players. Ronaldo, Dybala, Costa, Matuidi, Pjanic, Chiellini, Cuadrado to name just a few and of course, he’ll join up with his old Arsenal buddy again, Wojciech Szczęsny. If Aaron Ramsey can’t fit in amongst such good players and raise his game, he probably never will at any club.
Ramsey left a classy message on Twitter yesterday, thanking the Arsenal fans for all their support through his career with us, especially during that awful period when he was out injured. He leaves with a heavy heart he said which I suspect he does after eleven years but I think he’s doing the right thing. I think he was an Arsene Wenger player through and through and once the Frenchman left, he thought long and hard about his own situation.
It’s not good for the club to be allowing any player to leave for free but that’s done and dusted now and after this summer when others will be able to do the same, hopefully they’ll be the last.
For Ramsey, we’ll he has another three and a half months left at Arsenal, a period of time in which he assures fans he’ll give his all. Emery has nothing to lose by playing him although he might believe there’s little point, instead opting for a player who is our future. The same with Ozil who despite being far from perfect, is the only player we have who can create a goal scoring opportunity out of nothing.
Regardless of where either players future might be, right now they are being paid an awful lot of money by Arsenal to play football, so play them I say. Iwobi or Ozil? Iwobi or Ramsey? You might need time to think about that one……
By the way, if you’ve been reading the comments on Twitter attached to Ramsey’s farewell message, the one from someone called Rico, well it’s not me. Honest!!
See you in the comments guys…
RIP Gordon Banks…..
The club grew complacent under Wenger . There was no pressure from above on the board , the manager , the coaches and eventually the team. The mantra was ” just do enough” and it will be fine . Player’s contracts were allowed to drift and it seemed that leaving things to sort out on their own was easier than facing up to making difficult decisions.
Over the years the club’s lack of decisions has cost us dearly . Nasri and Fabregas allowed to leave together , Cesc at a cut price , we always seemed to be a soft touch buying at the top of the market but selling cheap . The days of holding Real Madrid to ransome over Anelka dissapeared as we became like a benign uncle letting players go and helping them on their way.
if this is to change and there is to be a harder more pragmatic attitude then everything will have to be judged on it’s merits and if as is reported that we are financially maxed out and that our wage structure is overloaded then it’s no surprise that Ramsey’s offer was withdrawn . No doubt something similar over Ozil is being engineered as they try to bring back control of the finances.
Players out of contract cost dear , it’s not just the wage but the re-signing on fee . Ramsey and Ozil together cost approx a million a week if you take Ramsey’s signing on fee plus wages . It seems like we are taking steps back before we can go forward.
Great article Rico…………I must have missed the Gordon Banks Obituary – RIP Mr Banks.
Morning all, a lovely sunny day here, tempered by 6deg in the shade. Brrrrrr!
Meant to say earlier Rico your nickname for Iwobi as “Mr Marmite” was spot on.
Personally, sad to see Ramsey go and in the cold light of day, who are we going to use as a replacement?
£200k/week (if true) was probably a trifle steep but then look at Özil’s vastly overpaid salary. Ramsey did have some flair
if you look at his heel flick goal against Fulham, where he started the move in his own half it was possibly one of the best team goals of the season?
WHAT A COMPILATION RICO with a skill set like that who shall we point fingers at for allowing this to happen. Madness.
We don’t see much of that mesmerising footwork from the current players, apart perhaps from Laca and Auba…??
I share all your doubts regarding UE but I’m waiting to the end of the season to see how we perform for the remaining games and, where we actually end up before dropping the trapdoor.
I just watched the
I’d love to know deal was supposed to have been agreed, according to Ramsey’s side, and then withdrew.
We’ve no choice as a club to lose before we win re wages etc which imo is a better option than throwing money at players who really aren’t what the club needs. After all, that’s what got us into this situation in the first place.
Nothing on Welbeck yet though which is odd. He’s an Emery kind of player imo.
Thanks Andorra, found the compilation on YouTube.
I think Ramsey’s replacement, or rather the player to step up will be one of Willock or Smith-Rowe.
What’s an Emery type kind of player Rico 😉
Hi Wath. Someone who runs around a lot.. 😜
Lol Wath, does Emery know 🙂
Good to see you in the House bud!!
Ramsey’s goal v Norwich was the best volley I’ve ever seen.
The technique to step back a pace or two, then hit it so cleanly was perfect in all sense of the word.
We had 12-18 months of him at his very best and at the time he was possibly the best player in the League.
He’s been a joy to watch because for all the errors he made, nobody would ever say he was boring to watch and the game is about entertainment.
Some goals he scored and others he was involved in would rank in anyone’s “best of” Arsenal goals.
Not good enough for us at 200 but good enough for Juve at twice the price and we wonder why we are going backwards?
Quality comes at a cost and we could’ve kept him for an admittedly high cost, but even if we don’t don’t replace him directly, we’ve lost a top player, so will need to bring in a top player to fill the hole, or will we?
Who knows?
Juve wouldn’t have paid a transfer fee and £400k a week though Scott. He’s only getting that because he’s free.
He was crap Scott not once did you get paid out on a hat-trick #just saying..!!
A run-around player is an Emery player is that your theory Rico………… interesting indeed, shame load are injured and can’t run f**k all…!
Scott, don’t believe all you read about a deal being taken back after being agreed etc etc…. agents speak with fork tongues remember ad if a deal was agreed and on the table why didn’t they sign it?
He’ll still get a sizeable signing on fee as well Rico, it’s mad money in my opinion but then again so it paying 350k for a bloke to train and never play..! Great bit of biz that was from dear ole Arsene and Ivan and we now reap the shit storm they left us with.
What do you reckon our injuries are about Wath? Overworked in training, overplayed? Actually, I don’t really know what an Emery player is at all but go8ng by what has been said about him, I assumed it was a hard worker, a player who is prepared to work hard out of possession.
However, I really don’t know what he’s trying to do with this squad. Whatever it might be, it’s not looking good.
I know Wath but they wouldn’t have paid £40m to us and then £400k a week surely?
Aren’t we just re Gazidis and Wenger, what a bloomin mess they left behind.
Agreed, Rico, but 400k is 400k and we could’ve kept him for half without paying a transfer fee 🙂
Wath, Ramsey himself said that, not his agent.
I’d never believe a word those vermin said.
I’ll get paid out on that hat trick one day lol
Scott, but Nasri, Adebayor etc all said they left to win trophies but I don’t recall you believing them. I think there’s far more to this Ramsey situation than simply a deal which was supposedly agreed being withdrawn…
Scott, Ramsey would and will say what looks best for him and his camp, to be fair to the bloke he hasn’t shirked in games and still gives 100% ad that makes a change but this ain’t all about him being stripped up by the club and far from it..!
Injuries Rico are a bloody nightmare and seem very random, we have 7/8 injured the media say sweet FA the darlings down the road have 2 injured and they in crisis. Not once has Emery had his first choice back 4/5 all fit for any league game this season. How can a bloke instill how he wants things done when he never has a fit enough squad to play who he wants the way he wants. I think anyone who cannot see an improvement in attitude and commitment in the squad needs to go join Stevie Wonder in the stands and seems to be in thing for people to moan like tarts just because. The man has inherited a falling down house and people expect miracles, it’s pathetic how little people grasp yet shows the power or social media that gives idiots the world over a voice to throw a tantrum. This shit storm left by Wenger and Ivan will take a minimum 4 transfer windows and 2 yrs to get right. Luckily we have a great crop of kids but the way our fans behave am sure Unai thinking do i play them and throw them to the wolves when AMN gets stick from utter dickheads. Very sad really but I think Emery is doing a very good job with whats at his disposal and the signs have been there when we’ve not had so many injuries that we can see how he wants us to play.
Trouble is Wath, we don’t look good and we’re leaking goals just as we always did but like you, I can certainly see a different attitude. The old shoulders down and a shrug after conceding has gone.
It’s certainly no coincidence that our good run was with a stable back five. I still think our problems mainly sit with the lack of quality in a few of the players who if replaced, might see us improve. Torreira, Guendouzi and Sokratis have all turned out well imo.
AMN is too casual imo, nothing that a boot up the bum wouldn’t solve.. lol
G’day all, so Ramsey Will leave with a heavy heart……and a heavier wallet too. C’mon down Emile Smith Rowe. 😉
🤣Cicero. I did think about adding that to my post but I thought I’d be nice for once.
Willock, AMN, Smith Rowe, Guendouzi, and possibly Suarez. I don’t think we need a replace the for Ramsey either. I’d rather a defensive midfielder who can cover for Torreira, or play alongside him at places like Anfield, City etc etc..
To me it’s obvious that Arsenal cannot, or will not, compete with the big clubs for top grade players. Either we buy inferior players or we make proper use it our academy.
Emery should acknowledge the fact and, starting on Thursday, begin to introduce at least one or two academy players to the starting eleven in each and every match between now and the end of the season. By doing so he will learn which of them he can trust and which of them he can rely on. He may just find he won’t need to spend a fortune in next summer’s transfer window.
But Torreira, Guendouzi and Sokratis didn’t break the bank. I think it’s a case of more of the same kind of player as others are sold. That and bringing through the youth.
We all know Kroenke doesn’t look like he’s going to invest big bucks like City etc, but I still maintain that there are players out there who can be signed before they become great players. Arsenal have just got to find them.
Great stuff.Ramsey has truly hit the jackpot,and good luck to him.He has always given his all,too inconsistent to be called a legend in my view,but the Italians think he’s worth more than 80 million,so what do I know?
My favourite memory was recent,when he jumped up to confront Eric Dire,fantastic.
RIP Gordon Banks.
Evening all and thanks Rico.
RIP Banksy, one of the best goalies I`ve ever seen and some of the best wall murals ever !
Ramsey will be missed imo and a stupid situation we were left in by the board/management, there will however be some nervous sheep in Turin.
Two FA Cup final winners and this……………………………………..
That goal was incredible. I doubt he’s struck a ball as well since…
I’m not sure I buy into this narrative that has been built up around Emery. First off don’t get me wrong, I’m not calling for his sacking. I think he came with a 2 year deal and he deserves at least that to see if he can improve things.
My issue is that I don’t see much improvement that Emery is responsible for. I see changes, differences but not tangible improvements. As I say, I’m hoping they will come in time.
What interests me is the ‘excuse factory’ that is building up within our fan base. Under Wenger we had a ‘witch hunt’ where if the tea lady ran out of peppermint tea it was Wengers fault. Whereas with Emery if something goes wrong it’s down to someone else, or an outside influence etcetc. Whilst I don’t want Emery gone, I don’t see why he should get any different levels of criticism if things aren’t working out.
I work on the principle that under Wenger (in his last and worst season by far) we finished 6th and got to the UEFA cup semis. Surely then matching that is a minimum for Emery. Especially when you consider that we have invested over £66m in the squad bringing in 5 new players.
The latest excuse for Emery is our injury crisis. He can’t put a team together, consistency, interferes with his tactics, can’t see a style. All this is down to our injury crisis. Some people are arguing about why we’ve got the injuries, whether it’s our change in style. No one has bothered to check whether our injuries are actually worse in comparison to previous seasons.
So far we are 26 games into a 38 game league campaign. That’s 68% through the season.
We have lost 786 days to player injuries so far. So to project ahead we will finish with about 1156 days lost to injury. How does this compare to recent seasons…..
2013-14. 2084
2014-15. 2095
2015-16. 1567
2016-17. 2008
2017-18. 1069
2018-19. 1156 (projected)
So whilst the injuries are annoying we are actually on course for our second best record of the last six years.
Rico/Wath, Ramsey made that comment publicly and the club haven’t refuted it, so I’m not sure why it’s being questioned.
No question he’s leaving for money, but the 400k wouldn’t even be an topic of discussion if they’d paid the 200k.
I’m not saying they should’ve, but to deny it, then let him stay until he can go on a free transfer is terrible business, imo.
Even 5-10 million in January would’ve been something.
Hobart, I’m with you.
The blame game on Wenger was tiring, yet it continues, and it will still be used a few years down the track.
Maybe he still has “total control” at the club 🙂
PSG tearing apart Utd is just lovely 🙂
Wenger will continue to get blamed Scott because he left us in this mess.
Hobart, the mentality has changed in a few players, they’re more steely than before imo.
Selling a player in January who is out of contract in the summerisn’t going to happen Scott because the player knows he’ll get paid more on a free move. He should have been sold by Jan 2017 if he wasn’t going to stay but as I’d said in the post, I think once Wenger left, Ramsey made his mind up. Players like Nasri told the press they left for trophies and the club didn’t comment on them either, so does that mean they were telling the truth all along too?
Hobart, what about Wenger spending £60 on Aubameyang, £50m on Lacazette, £35m on Xhaka and again on Mustafi? If we are going by your theory, Wenger should have improved vastly on the 2016 league placing. But no, we ended up 5th and in Europa.
Rico, while I think we should’ve sold him in August or January, I do agree it should never have come to this.
Ivan is every bit as guilty as Wenger, though so if we aim up at one, let’s at least be fair about it.
Nasri also stated Wenger wanted to keep him but was over ruled.
RVP, similar situation-the call came from above.
Not sure how you can compare those situations to Ramseys, Rico.
Ramsey made the statement, but your asking the club to read the minds of players?
How would they truly know why those guys left?
All the rest aside, will Ramsey do well in Italy or not?
How will he fit in with the current Juventus squad?
Not at all Scott. Nasri, RvP, Adebayor, Henry etc, all told the media why they were leaving Arsenal. But you, me and others believed they purely moved for money.
I think people on here have cited Wenger and Gazidis for the contract situations though Scott. Not just Wenger.
Once Ramsey is gone, I don’t care what happens with him in Italy.
A classy goodbye or just glad to be going……all I know is he won’t be missed at London Colney, he’s one big arrogant twat !
Not a Ramsey fan then Micko? 😜
Penny has just dropped Micko, or rather my memory has just come back…, lol
Rico, the two factors I gave as examples were transfer spend and injury records. Even though we had a good injury record in the season of 17/18 (when Lacazette and Aubameyang were brought in) we actually made a profit of £9m in the transfer market. So it’s not unsurprising that we didn’t improve on the 16/17 season and fell into the UEFA cup.
Why the board responded to our dropping into the UEFA cup by not investing in the squad is baffling to me……
My point above is that people are providing excuses for Emery that are invalid. That the injuries are why he hasn’t got us performing better. Firstly our injuries aren’t that bad in comparison to recent seasons and secondly no one ever accepted that excuse to mitigate against Wengers final league position.
For me the problem is people swallow the injury excuse and don’t look further to try and find what really is going on.
rico, it was inevitable, how he ever survived on a 100 grand a week in London for so long is anyone’s guess lol.
Hobart,
Any argument can be twisted and turned on either Wenger order emery, depending on how it’s put.
We’ve all done it 🙂
Rico, I hope he does well.
He’s done nothing wrong by our club, imo-well, except for not stepping in and allowing his agent to handle things which every bloody player does nowadays.
It’s a cop out imo.
However, he’s never said a bad word about it, always gave his best and should have been kept imo but so be it.
Another of our better players moving on and us getting bugger all for him.
It happens too often and has done for too long.
He will join another player at Juve who most Arsenal fans thought wasn’t good enough for us but seems to be going ok at Juve.
We’ve become a nursery for the big clubs, it seems.
Who’s next?
Hobart, have you compared or thought about comparing which players were injured then and now? We may losing less hours/minutes of players injury but a lot depends on the person injured. If elneny was listed as injured for example, it would be less crucial to the team than say Koscielny, Sokratis, Bellerin etc missing through injury.
Does it matter about profit? Again it’s about who was sold, what impact the we’re having within the team at the time etc. We could sell ten players, all a mix of squad one youth players who barely play, raise £50m from the sales and then sign someone for £40m who goes straight into the team and makes a huge difference. Are we then not better off?
Surely transfers run a lot deeper than just money spent?
Ha ha Micko, could ask the same about a few others too.
Scott, this summer should be the last of players leaving for free. You’d rather Wenger wasn’t mentioned yet it was him together with Gazidis who allowed the contract situations to run the way they did/are. Personally, I’m not overly fussed about us losing Ramsey. Losing him for free yes, but him moving on, no big deal imo.
Rico, you’re right and I hope that’s the case.
It’ll most certainly prove Wenger and Ivan were to blame.
Again, I’d rather Ramsey stay, but I’m more dirty we’re getting nothing out of it.
Terrible business, and plenty okayed a part in it, no question.
Let’s hope he fires up this next few months not to rub our noses in it, but just to help us aim for top 4.
Micko, admittedly I’ve only ever been to London once and for a short time, but 10k a week would see me at least fed, housed and clothed so that’ll do me 🙂
There’s a lack of character in our team. Perhaps they’re just trying too hard.
Morning guys.
Adam, I think one or two have a bit of character, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Lacazette and Sokratis certainly do. Lichtsteiner has a bit about him too, or is that not what you meant? 😜
New post up.
rico, ideally we could look at all the data, but frankly I don’t keep that and I also don’t have the time to drill down to those levels. I just grabbed it
Also transfers do run deeper than straight financial bottom lines. I have plenty of thoughts on this subject.
The point wasn’t really to crunch through the data, it was to highlight the fact that Emery is being afforded excuses that weren’t being given to Wenger.
I can understand someone saying that Emery should have a couple of years to show his results. That’s fine.
But everything from finance, injuries, squad makeup, Ozil, Mustafi, Gazidis , ffp have been rolled out to excuse Emery.
Sure people should give him the time that any new manager would need to tailor things, but some people seem to be going out of their way to find excuses for him.