I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the effectiveness of Arsenal’s performances have decreased since Aaron Ramsey picked up a thigh injury on Boxing Day.
For the last month or so, the Gunners seem to have been treading water, grinding out results and just about getting the job done. Think back to their first half performance during the 2-2 draw with Southampton. That was the performance of a team that’s calling out for inspiration.
They needed a player like Aaron Ramsey to grab the game by the horns and wrestle it to the floor.
The Christmas period is notoriously tough on players, testing the limits of their fitness and usually chucking up more than its fair share of injuries. In Arsenal’s case, however, it seems to have been particularly punishing.
Sources have reported that Aaron Ramsey recently broke down in training having ‘aggravated’ his thigh injury. This puts the Gunners in a tough position as the Welshman will now miss games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Manchester United. Whether he’ll make it back for the first leg of the Bayern Munich game is anybody’s guess.
This is a pivotal part of Arsenal’s season and they’ll have to go through it without the man who has arguably become their best player.
The 23-year-old has made 27 appearances thus far this season and has found the back of the net 13 times. I’m sure that most strikers would kill for that goals-to-games ratio.
His improvement has been nothing short of astonishing. In his five previous years at the club, he only managed to score 11 goals. He’s managed to double his tally in one season and then some!
There were those who thought that the arrival of Mesut Ozil would squeeze Aaron Ramsey out of the club. That hasn’t been the case. On the contrary, he’s responded to the challenge and has now gone from strength-to-strength. All of a sudden he’s become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
And at 23-years-old, having recently agreed a new deal with Arsenal, fans have plenty of reason to be excited for the future.
It shows his importance to this Arsenal side that fans are so concerned about him being out for a couple of months. To say that his absence has been felt would be an understatement. Get well soon Aaron!
What’s your take? Will Arsenal struggle without their Welsh boy wonder?
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