Aaron Ramsey is in fantastic form so far this season. After a couple of tumultuous years with the gunners the young Welshman really stepped up to the plate during crunch time last year and has followed in the same vein this campaign.
His start to premier league and champions league life was impressive, making a seamless transaction from the championship after picking up an FA Cup runners up medal and becoming the youngest player ever in the final. He scored a late goal on his Champions League group debut, despite it only being a short cameo in an eventual 5-2 away win over Fenerbahce. His great form seemed to be on a upward trend, consistently impressing next to Arsenal’s star man and captain; Cesc Fabregas. As his impressive showings continued he and fellow young gun Jack Wilshere were touted as the future of Arsenal. The Caerphilly born midfielder would pop up with the odd goal but it was his energetic and technically astute game that had fans and pundits raving.
When Arsenal travelled to Stoke City on 27th February 2010, many sensed an upset. Stoke are the antithesis of Arsenal; big, powerful and direct with their build up play, Arsenal had struggled at the Britannia before, and as Arsenal fans know, it’s not somewhere we enjoy going. The game finished 3-1 to Arsenal but that wasn’t the story. A mistimed challenge from a usually competent centre-back was. The ball was being knocked around in the Arsenal half when Ramsey’s touch let him down, his youthful spring enabled him to beat Ryan Shawcross to the ball, Shawcross though swiped Ramsey’s right leg as he planted it, a double leg break was the result for the Arsenal man, a red card for the Stoke defender. There was plenty of fall out from this game, my genuine opinion is that Ramsey was extremely unlucky. It was a high challenge but there were no studs on show, there was excessive force but I’ve seen worse challenges go unpunished, and the outcome was nowhere near the same as this.
After a relatively short rehab period Rambo returned to first team action; a loan to Nottingham Forest, followed by a stint at former club Cardiff. His performances weren’t particularly outstanding but he was comfortable on the ball and willing to take it in tight spaces.
His return to Arsenals first team came in 2011, after playing against Manchester United in the FA Cup and losing 2-0 he continued to appear for the gunners. He seemed a little rusty and tentative but that was to be expected on his return to top level competition. What was not to be expected was how long this would last for. He wasn’t a bad player during that period but he definitely wasn’t Arsenal quality. He scored a couple of important goals for the side; a pair of winners against United in the league and Marseille in the champions league. What didn’t help his cause was being played out of position, something only Le Professeur can justify.
After being named as Wales captain in 2011, aged just 20, by Gary Speed he seemed to be improving. Speed’s death later that year took it’s toll on the still very young man. He lost his way a little on the pitch, also losing his national captaincy to Ashley Williams. These horrible events in Ramsey’s life seem to have fuelled him however, he has been steadily improving since 2012 and appears to be one of the best players in the league of late. His return from injury up until now will all just be part of his legend, he’s on the path to Arsenal greatness should he continue to outperform Wilshere, Cazorla, Rosicky and Walcott.
There are so many great players at Arsenal; Jack Wilshere, a player that shares the same heart and desire for the club; Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla are two players that can help refine Ramsey’s attacking prowess and bring him to the forefront of the premier league. There are experienced heads in the squad like Arteta and Mertesacker than can help with his positional discipline, Mathieu Flamini possesses the same kind of engine Aaron does, he can help with his controlled aggression on the pitch, he’ll also help with the defensive side of his game. This is all without mentioning The Ox, Rosicky or Diaby.
The most recent home league game against Stoke marked Ramsey coming full circle after his horrific leg break. I was at the game at the Emirates and his performance was fantastic. His new attacking instincts were shown in the first 5 minutes, following a Mesut Özil free kick in and sliding home after Begovic parried. It was just the goal that was impressive, as the North Bank raised the noise levels, serenading him with a chorus of “There’s only one Aaron Ramsey”, he raised his performance. Assured in possession, relentless in defence it was a true top level game from the young man. His aura was one of a man completely over his past injury. The crowd sang “Ryan Shawcross you know what you are”, with Ramsey’s potential now translating into quality on the field. Who knows what his ceiling is.
A fully fit and in form Aaron Ramsey is an automatic pick for Arsenal. With his timely runs from deep, the improvement seen in his composure in front of goal, willingness to grab a game and make something happen, and ever increasing range of passing he is an integral part of the Gunners midfield machine. It may be too early to compare them so whisper it: Aaron Ramsey could be the new Frank Lampard.
