It’s funny how critical evaluations of certain players seem to turn on a sixpence. Arsenal’s talented midfielder Aaron Ramsey has suffered the wrath of fans at more than one stage during his career. Whether he’s feeling the force of the Welsh fans who expect him to lead their side at just 21-years-old or disappointing Arsenal fans in some way or another he seems to inspire strong feelings. But fan’s response haven’t all been negative – people are always keen to point out that he’s young and will improve, they also note that the process he’s made at this stage in his career has been pretty impressive.
Arsene Wenger had enough faith in his ability to pay £5m for his signature back in 2008, fighting off staunch competition for Manchester United in the process. At the time he was widely considered to be one of world football’s biggest prospects. I think it’s fair to say that over the years circumstances have conspired to decrease his stock.
So what are we to make of Bleacher Report’s claims that he is in danger of losing his first-team place “for good”? Is this harsh or a fair assessment?
The trouble, when it comes to Aaron Ramsey, is that many fans struggle to put his career into perspective. Five years ago he was tipped to make it big in the Premier League – so how come he hasn’t fulfilled this potential yet? The answer’s clear, yet most fans don’t seem to grant his injury problems enough significance in terms of his career trajectory.
Back in 2010 Ramsey had eight months chipped out of his career thanks to a horrific double leg-break that he suffered against Stoke City. Naturally it took a significant portion of time for him to recover and I’d argue that he’s never quite captured his pre-injury from. Whilst he wasn’t exactly a regular back in those days, his performances were dynamic and effective and boded extremely well for his future.
So the perspective that Arsenal fans need: this is Ramsey’s first real full season of Premier League football, he’s just 21-years-old and he still has the potential to go on to be a major player.
Yes he has only managed 4 assists and 2 goals in 21 appearances, but he’s clearly still finding his feet. Stats like this don’t take into account the amount of ground he covers, his energetic approach and his ability to get himself into good positions.
Just take his game at Everton, where he was presented with 3 or 4 decent chances in the space of 15 minutes. Yes he’s lacking in clinicality, but he knows where he needs to be on the football pitch, works hard to get there and keeps Arsenal ticking over.
It’s easy to forget that scoring goals is something that young midfielders often learn last. Jack Wilshere still hasn’t learnt it and it took Cesc Fabregas a few seasons of regular football to establish some confidence in front of goal.
Bleacher Report’s main complaints, that his attempts at ‘intricate trickery’ don’t come off and that he’s a little ‘slow into challenges’ are symptomatic of the fact that he’s still adapting his game and his body to the pace of the Premier League. Quick frankly, after his horror-injury he deserves a season to readjust. His problem, if there is one, is that he’s been forced to pick up too much of the slack at Arsenal too soon thanks to injury troubles throughout the squad.
The fact that Wenger was willing to accommodate Ramsey in Wednesday’s squad against Everton shows that he’s still very much in Arsenal’s first team plans. He’ll get plenty of opportunities and the more game time he gets, the more his confidence will grow.
So let’s not write him off just yet.
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First of all, I put very little stock into any article on Bleacher Report in any sport. Second, I think that overall, Arsenal fans have been very supportive of Ramsey as a talent and, for the most part, for his performances this season. The criticisms of Ramsey have, rightly, come in the second half of this season–but there has been a reason for this.
While this is Ramsey’s first full season with Arsenal, he has, in effect, already played a season for the club prior to this year in the form of two half-seasons (one before getting injured and the other after coming back in the middle of last season). That doesn’t make him entirely what we Americans say is a “rookie” (a first year player), but has made him vulnerable to what we also refer to as a “sophomore slump” that many pro athletes in all sports go through when the opposition catches on to the things that a player is good at or likes to do and will force him to do something else that he’s generally weaker at doing by denying him his primary strengths and options. The very best players anticipate this and adjust to it quickly. Most, however, take some time to learn and excel at alternatives. Some never develop other strengths in their game and end up becoming marginal or situational players at best. Watching him play this season, you can see Ramsey struggling with this now.
Ramsey has also been struggling with something else that has been beyond his control this season: over-use. With all of the injuries at Arsenal this season, Wenger had to use Ramsey far more than he should have been used–much in the way that Wilshere was over-used last season. And, the fact his that Ramsey simply “ran out of gas” and got tired. By January, he couldn’t run nearly as fast or as much in the second half of games as needed, let alone as earlier in the season. Ramsey’s game at this stage of his career is based on his energy and running and, as a result, he became a liability in the lineup. I’m certain that Wenger recognized this and that is a big reason why he chose to sit Ramsey–the other two reasons being Rosicky’s return to form and the fact that over-used players tend to be more vulnerable to injuries (see what happened to Wilshere and also how AW has cut back Ox-Chambo’s playing time recently).
Ramsey is still a young player with weaknesses in his game and lots to learn. But, the talent is still there and, with the amount of competitions that Arsenal will be involved in, there will still be a place in the starting lineup for him at times. Whether he will be with the first choice group against top competition will be up to him, however. He will ultimately be if he learns what to do when the opposition takes away what he wants to do, learns to play better defensively (very important because he doesn’t always get back when he needs to and leaves the back four/five vulnerable), and he is used in a rotation where he can stay fresh because he can pass the ball well and is capable of bringing energy to the club. He won’t succeed, though, if he continues to be a “one-trick pony”, like Diaby (who is still trying to dribble through three defenders rather than pass to an open teammate after 5 years), and keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. That’s understandable now, it won’t be next season or definitely the season after next.
For the time being, even if Wilshere returns, Ramsey will still get playing time because Rosicky and Arteta are not that young and will need to be given a rest if Arsenal’s run in is to maintain sufficient momentum to secure third place in the EPL at season’s end. And, there’s a good chance that he will be given the opportunity to be a part of the midfield rotation next season as well–if only to show if he can and has taken his game to the next level (AW gives all his youngsters that chance before deciding whether to keep or sell them). Where he fits in that rotation will, again, be up to Ramsey. But, that’s what competing for places on a top professional roster is like. Ramsey has the talent, now he needs to further refine his skill and vision. If he does, he can become an exceptional player for the club and he’s still young enough to get it done.
Keep supporting him because he is british,demilson is surely better than him cos he never tries what he cant do.when every one is fully fit he will surely be d last in d perking order,i pray so.