Eleven years. Firstly, where have they gone? Secondly, too many of those years ruined because of two men. Tony Pulis and his ‘rough ‘em up’ tactics. Ryan Shawcross for executing them.
Most of Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal career was played under the management/coaching of Arsene Wenger, all actually apart from this season which proved to be his last. Whilst others came and went, the Welshman stayed put.
I think it’s fair to say that Ramsey was always one of Wenger’s favourites as if he was fit, ninety nine times out of a hundred, he’d play, even if it meant playing him out of position which I felt, didn’t really help him win over his critics.
On form, and in the heart of midfield, Ramsey could be a huge asset to both Arsenal and Wales but more often than not, it was for his country where he played his best football. Simple reason for that in my opinion is that he played in his most suited role and he thrived. At Arsenal though, Wenger’s obsession with midfielders meant we often saw Ramsey deployed out wide and his impact on the game lessened because of it, but Ramsey wasn’t the only player who suffered from being played out of position.
2013/14 was possibly Ramsey’s best season for Arsenal, his winning goal in the FA Cup Final which was excellent in itself, brought an end to the ‘Arsenal, who haven’t won a trophy for……’ headlines. That same season, the Welshman was our standout player of the campaign.
A couple of seasons later, he scored another crucial goal, our second against Chelsea in yet another FA Cup Final victory. He’s scored many others too for both club and country but his one against the Toots together with his two FA Cup winning ones will always be remembered most because of their quality and importance. On the flip side, those goals probably helped prolong Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career.
Over his long Arsenal career, Aaron Ramsey has divided fans opinion but as said, at his best, he could be an outstanding player and that’s the player we’ll miss as we did this season during our final few games and certainly in the Europa Cup Final. Had he been fit for all those fixtures, our season might have ended differently but then the same could be said about other players who missed large chunks of Emery’s first season as head coach.
Eleven years he’s been an Arsenal man but in the end, and like so many footballers in this day and age, money seems to have been more important than the club and its fans. That’s agents for you.
There’s some special moments in there.. Enjoy.
I wish Aaron Ramsey well as he heads to Italy for a new journey with Juventus. I’m sure a few Serie A titles are heading his way.
For Arsenal though, life goes on, it always has and always will.
Ramsey, Cech, Welbeck and Lichtsteiner have departed. Jenkinson and Monreal could join them as their contracts expire this summer, although neither have be confirmed yet. More need to follow them too as Arsenal really need an ‘out with the old and in with the new’ summer. I think a few will will go too because life under Emery seems to be different. The players are being asked to do more, to work harder, press from the front and defend too. Life as an Arsenal player is no longer a walk in the Ozil park as it’s appeared to be for the last few years of Wenger’s reign and as in real life, when the going gets tough, the not so tough, quit.
Ozil wants everyone else to do the hard work whilst he produces the magic but these days he does neither. Mkhitaryan, whilst slightly more industrious, isn’t an awful lot better. Aubameyang turns it on when he wants but went missing on too many occasions despite his goals. All are having to work for their money and I’m not sure they like it. Same goes for others too.
I think Ramsey’s agent thought the club would roll over and bow to his demands as they did with Ozil but instead they said no and that was that. I think they were right by doing so too because Arsenal as a club have needed to toughen up for a long time and this is them saying they are in control again, not the players and certainly not the agents.
Same goes for on the pitch. Emery wants his team to be stronger, both physically and mentally but in the main, what’s he’s got is a group of players who have been getting away with mediocrity for far too long.
As Kev said in his post yesterday, Emery might not be the man long term, who really knows right now but his job is to change the attitude within the dressing room. He’s not going to change the older players attitude in my opinion because they’re too old in the tooth so he’s got to change the players. I reckon he will too.
Not all because that’s a big ask in one summer, but I think we’ll see a few move onto pastures new…..
Transfer Gossip:
Aubameyang could be heading to the Chinese League if he fancies a bumper pay rise. Not that the reported £300k a week is much more than he already earns in north London and Arsenal have launched a £37million double swoop for Sampdoria’s Dennis Praet and Joachim Andersen, according to reports in Italy.
A Belgian attacking midfielder and a 6’ 4” duel footed Danish centre back. Just what we need positionally, especially the centre back but of course, it’s rumours only and seldom do they come true.
But if they did arrive at Arsenal, would you consider them to be good signings?
I’m off to YouTube to check them out. Mind you, Denis Suarez looks good on there…
Have a good Tuesday guys…
Excellent daily blog, like you I wish Ramsey all the best. Give Emery another season but if it’s a slow start he’ll be a favourite in the sack race
Welcome and thanks Warren.
Good Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, good post…
I wonder if Arsenal will get their business done early again this summer Rico, as was the case 12 months ago? Cech gone, Ramsey gone, Lichtsteiner gone, that’s the easy part as their contracts expire, it’s the guys with 12 months and 2 years left we have to deal with asap.
Did anyone notice Xavier Amaechi having a meltdown about missing out on a seat on the subs bench in the Europa Cup Final and threatening not to re-sign a new contract especially with Bayern sniffing around.
Bloody 18 year old whose done sod all having a strop, no doubt wound up by his agent who I’m sure, smells a nice pay day for himself?
We need to sign him up then loan him out pronto, protect our investment even if he is acting like a spoilt brat. His attitude stinks but we can’t allow him to do a Gnabry, how sickening would it be if Bayern turned us over again?
I guess that’s why I’ve gone right off of Rabiot, good player but his behaviour isn’t what I want at Arsenal, we’ve got enough tossers like him already…
Morning Kev, thanks.
I hope they do and not leave it looking like we’re scraping around late in the summer. Let’s show a bit of intent, even without big a budget.
I read that, is the source of the article about Amaechi reliable or just probable garbage?
Football London. 🤣🤣
Football.London are a load of crap, but I wonder where that came from, it’s not as if it’s one of our big hitters moaning, so could be his agent stirring it up?
I guess we’ll see as Amaechi and John Jules, both being courted by foreign clubs, will either sign or not, we had this last summer with Reiss Nelson, it’s becoming a habit… ☹️
Good day all, It’s refreshing to see that the flak Emery has been copping, over the Ramsey debacle, is now quite rightly being redirected to where it belongs, namely Sanllehi and his management team. It was they who withdrew the contract offer when Ramsey, or his agent, demanded more wages than the club felt reasonable and within the club’s guidelines.
A clip round the ear would do no harm to some of the pampered youngsters. They need to get a taste of the real world outside Hale End and London Colney.
I suspect it stems from his agent, the6 do like to misbehave.
Why Raul Cicero? I blame Gazidis and Wenger for not sorting Ramsey’s contract out two years ago.
Hi there, good afternoon everybody.
Good read.
But I don’t rate Ramsey.
He just lacks the technical skills and the spatial awareness to be a NO. 10, the lynchpin of the team.
Three examples come into mind – Bryan Robson, Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard.
He lacks the steel and fearlessness of Bryan Robson, and his leadership to be the future Captain of Arsenal.
He lacks the goal scoring prowess of Frank Lampard.
He lacks the overall skill and awareness of Steve Gerrard to be the heart-beat of the team.
Ramsey is the jack-of-all-trades, possessing a bit of attributes of these 3 English players but is master of none of one of their primary attributes.
I wish him all the best in Italy but just lacks that silky skills of Liam Brady and the vision of the late Ray Wilkins or David Platt to survive in Italy.
Let’s see he will survive more than one season playing in a foreign country like Ian Rush.
One door closed, another opens.
There is a vacuum for a No.8 and No.10 and hope those youngsters like Torreira, Guendouzi, Willock, Smith-Rowe and new buys will eventually shape the team that Unai Emery is rebuilding in 2 years time.
https://www.gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2019/06/04/arsenals-future-is-bright-if-they-give-their-young-stars-a-chance-to-shine-positive-needs-hopes/?utm_campaign=2-or-3-more&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter
Good one Rico.
Ramsey, Cech, Welbeck and Lichtsteiner, Jenkinson and Monreal……………………….that has to be £450kpw in wages freed up, just add Ozil and that`s £800kpw !…………a few more and we could save £1mpw !……………then play all the youngsters ! 🙂
Cocker, I’m all for playing our youngsters, but you have to accept the risk of their form fluctuating as it always does with youngsters learning their trade, and you know what our fan base is like, can you imagine the meltdown if a young Arsenal team is half way down the table in October or November, we’d have planes flying over the Emirates trailing ‘Emery Must Go’ signs behind them…
I’m all for playing the youngsters too in with a mix of strong older heads. A bit like how Ajax are going and they’re playing some exciting stuff I think.
But, to do that, is Emery the right manager? Isn’t his history about buying ready made older players for the here and now and without much thought for the future because the chances are he won’t be around?
New post up now.