Peter Crouch can’t believe Arsenal are letting Aaron Ramsey join Juventus on a free after resounding wins further demonstrating “the error of their ways”.
The Wales international helped the Gunners to triumphs over Manchester United and Rennes but Crouch claims the events have only further highlighted the baffling move to allow Ramsey to leave for nothing.
Writing in his weekly Daily Mail column, the Burnley striker said: “It’s another week that has shown the error of their ways. I have written a couple of times this season about Aaron Ramsey and you will know my position — I found it madness they were not prepared to offer him another deal and I can’t believe they are losing him to Juventus for free.
“Ramsey is quality. He is the type of footballer that should cost someone £40million in a transfer fee alone. If Arsenal want to replace him like-for-like, that is the type of investment they will need to make, along with top-end wages. They will find it is no straightforward task.
“For Arsenal to make the same mistake so soon after losing Alexis Sanchez has left me scratching my head. It was avoidable.”
OPINION
Crouch is not alone in his disbelief at Arsenal allowing Ramsey to exit to a European big hitter without so much as a penny in compensation. The club felt they had no choice after ex-chief executive Ivan Gazidis got hemmed into a corner during the lengthy Sanchez and Mesut Ozil contract sagas at the start of 2018 and felt it was a good idea to make the German the best-paid player in Premier League history on a reported £350,000-a-week. Subsequent events have showed that was a disastrous move, with Ozil in and out of the team, and failing to demonstrate anything in the way of commitment to the red-and-white cause. Ramsey, by contrast, is playing with a puppy-ish eagerness, and he has won new admirers among Gooners for his willingness to do the hard yard and not speak out in frustration when he is on the sub’s bench. A true professional and a top player. Arsenal will miss him hugely.