HENRIKH MKHITARYAN – IS HE THE AARON RAMSEY UNIA IS LOOKING FOR? by Nicholas Oyoo
For the umpteenth time, we are here again. A key player in the Arsenal XI is holding us ransom to pick the biggest cheques or leave us to move elsewhere. Aaron Ramsey, it is reported he is demanding 250,000 per week. However, if his display in his personally favoured position against Man City (where he was anonymous for the match) and the introduction of Alexandre Lacazette confirmed there was something amiss.
Emery is not hiding what he feels about the capabilities Aaron Ramsey possesses and he is not the first to see how good the player can sometimes become. When on song Aaron Ramsey is almost unplayable. However, the Spanish manager should not be blinded to the fact that he could have other options in the squad.
If Ramsey does end up leaving, Unia Emery must realize that, in the squad, we have a player capable of making us forget that Ramsey is missing. We must have forgotten when Mkhitaryan crossed over from Manchester United in a deal that has Sanchez move the other way, he found an Arsenal with most of us feeling downcast, and after a few games we suddenly seemed to realized we had actually just completed a heist of the Old Trafford. We were not just smiling again. We actually started believing we had dodged a bullet in letting Sanchez go! This was because of the performances Mkhitaryan mustered. He seemed to know just where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was and just how to unlock the stubborn sides to get the goals coming.
We all remember the pleasant questions of how do we fit all our fire power into the same side made up of Lacazette, Aubameyang, Ozil, Mkhitaryan and possibly Ramsey. And we dreamt and the Manager too was facing similar thoughts. Here Below are statements attributed to the Arsene Wenger about how to play Henrikh Mkhitaryan. “He can play in different positions, but personally I see him first in a wide position, but I’m thinking about him a possibility to play through the middle,” the manager said, as reported by Arsenal.com.
With Ramsey looking like he’s lost form and demanding a leg and foot to sign back in, perhaps it’s time to for Unai Emery to try what Arsene Wenger had been contemplating and putting Mhkitaryan in the place Aaron Ramsey operate from and we see what would happen with the Armenian. I’m convinced Mkhitaryan and Ozil sharing the central area with Mkhitaryan operating slightly deeper could have our midfield added more steel and character like never before. The Armenian would win dribble duels and provide killer passing we know he is far capable of. He would not track back due to pace, rather due to experience of reading the game and not exposing the Central midfielders all the time like Ramsey does. Trying out the Armenian in this role and if he succeeds, and Arsenal should not have to negotiate from a position of weakness with Ramsey. In fact, Mkhitaryan might just help us forget there was once an Aaron Ramsey, just like many of us were happy to feel much better when Sanchez left and he came in.
With Mkhitaryan and Ozil going central, Ramsey out of the team and Lacazette paired up with Aubameyang, Arsenal suddenly look very menacing again. Here is a pattern that would have the two in the centre. Pattern 4.1.4.1. in fact, I dare say this would trouble Chelsea if this is the side they face this evening.
——————————Lacazette—————————
Aubameyang——-Ozil———Mkhitaryan——-Nelson/Guedouzi/Iwobi/Rowe
——————————–Torreirra————————-
Monreal——-Mustafi——–Sokratis———–Bellerin
—————————-Cech—————————–
Who needs Ramsey?
Nicholas
I agree that Mkhitaryan could play better if he operates deeper and the same thing may apply to Ozil as well. But Ramsey is actually a better box-to-box midfielder than them, because he has better stamina and willingness to press the opponents hard
Ramsey is not effective as a no 10 and Mkhitaryan/ Ozil/ Iwobi also seemed to struggle in that position when playing in tough away matches. Therefore I’d prefer Arsenal to remove any no 10 strategy and use the energy of our hardworking/ pacey players in the Chelsea match:
…………………..Cech
Bellerin . Sokratis . Mustafi . Lichtsteiner
…………………Torreira
………Ramsey ……….. Guendouzi
……………….Lacazette
…..Nelson ……………….. Aubameyang
you call leaving his DM exposed all the time thinking he’s a striker best box to box? are u kidding me right now? do u even watch arsenal games. matter of fact his best position was where unai made him play last week which he flopped. a position the ramsey supporters claim is his best position because he plays it so well for wales. did u ever watch cazorla play the b2b role… that’s even too far AMN and Guendouzi are far better Dm pairings than ramsey because they are much more disciplined. if it were up to me. I will have AMN and Guendouzi competing for b2b spot paired with Guendouzi, ramsey and elneny can play carabao cup and the easy europa league games. nothing more
*paired with torriera*
AMN is injured, otherwise it’s between Guendouzi and him
if Rambo have Arsenal in his heart he would have signed the contract since with Iwobi, Xhaka, Elneny…
Rambo is just another gold digger.
All players are gold diggers to a certain extent
Ozil and Sanchez capitalized on the previous situations, which gave them obscene amount of salary. It was Arsenal’s (Gazidis’ and his minions’) fault that allowed Ozil, Sanchez, Chamberlain and Ramsey ran down their contracts until there is only one year left
Suppose our service is highly required by our current employer and we want to move to another place because of career, money, location, etc. Our current employer would most likely give us a better offer, because they really need us to stay
It is the same for the footballers, especially because they have much shorter career than the office workers
It’s a job.Who wouldn’t want more cash?Get as much as you can before you retire while keeping your career in mind btw.I don’t blame any player for wanting more money.No one has the right to run their jobs for them.You won’t please everyone in this world.Make the best decision for yourself and career.
Loyalty even in life is a two way thing.In soccer, it’s so overrated and bias.Why are players expected to be loyal but not clubs to players?If it were for true loyalty greats like Henry,Campbell and co wouldn’t even play for Arsenal.Every player has got to be disloyal to in one way or the other.Only few have remained truly truly very loyal e.g Xavi Prieto
It’s easy to be loyal to a big club but I prefer a person to be deemed loyal regardless of the situation.Players die in the pitch and get injured too while playing.Its their job and noone has the right to tell them how to run.If I was a player I’d dig for the gold as much as I can while keeping my career in mind.Im sure today some players will look back and wish they did the same too.
I PEFEAR RAMSY TO START AGAINS CHELSEA BCUS HE HAS ACCURAT PASE HE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE CHELSEA HE HAS KILLER PAST HE TOO STRONG STURBORN I LIK RAMSY
I would prefer it if Ramsey left and yes we push Mihki into the deep lying play maker role. Much like we had Cazorla and Coquelin play. The pivot. Mihki is quicker with the ball and laying it off than Xhaka and Ramsey, let Torreira clean up and I think you can push Mihki to improve his stamina in the role. After all, if Santo did it at nearly 30, Mihki should be able to do it.
?
Arsenal must score more goals
than Chelsea to triumph
Thanks barryglik for your inciteful comment; you’re wasted on here and should be a professional pundit ??
Hahahaha! Maybe Barry was so sick to death of the infantile drivel we are constantly bombarded with from Kev and gotnoidea that he thought it must be his turn!
In fact those two clowns appear to be responsible for at least 25% – 30% of ALL posts on EVERY article, no matter the subject matter – at least that how it seems to me.
How on earth would Unai cope if he didn’t have the unified wisdom of those two football geniuses, the experts, the greatest know-alls in the history of any fan page, to guide him?
We are so lucky to have them don’t you think?
Duh….thanks for stating the obvious Barryglik.
Lighten up kklin – I think he’s just having a bit of fun mimicking Kev and gotnoidea.
We have a particular problem at Arsenal. With our attacking midfield of Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, and Ozil we have three regularly inconsistent players. Playing them all together is too risky. The highlight so far has been Matteo Guendouzi. With Lucas Torreira it looks like we have a couple of jewels who can link and play together. Personally Mkhitaryan and Ozil really worry me defensively. So if we play Lacazette and Aubamayang together probably Mkhitaryan would be the one to drop down. I would like to see in a couple of weeks. Leno, Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, Mustafi, Monreal, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Ozil, Lacazette and Aubamayang. Lastly, supporters should make their feelings known about ‘Greedy Stan Kroenke’ who has led us towards mediocrity for many, many years. He is Arsenal’s nightmare owner who needs to change his mentality towards Arsenal, one of his 5 major clubs. It should be illegal to own so many. It can be shown with Kroenke that leads to across the board mediocrity.
Agree about the risk of playing Ramsey, Mkhitaryan and Ozil together
Also agree about Kroenke, but that is how business operates. He must have calculated how he could gain a lot of profit from Arsenal and how he can make the business sustainable
The only thing Arsenal fans could do to force Kroenke to sell everything is by not purchasing anything from Arsenal
I am one of the many Arsenal fans who have been apportioning blames to Stan kroenke for his being a close-fist owner of Arsenal FC who has not been making sufficient funds available for Arsenal to sign many top class players than can positively impacted a PL and Ucl Titles win for the club with minimal delays.
However, after a 2nd thought and having realised that Stan Kroenke is a sport outfits investor who has established a sporting business franchise, the KSE for business profit making, one cannot really blame him if he does not pump part of his personal owed asset money into Arsenal FC because he doesn’t have the passion for doing that like e.g. Abram Abremovich the Chelsea owner has done. But Kroenke preferred the cut your coat according to your pocket model approach for Arsenal i.e. self sustainability model. Which in business orientation is true and good.
Nevertheless, in the modern era in professional football club ownership management where the craze to win Titles by all means has eroded self sustainability model of financing a football club to win Titles has become the trend, how can Arsenal FC them compete favourably with their PL Title win rival clubs to win the PL Title when their PL Title win rival clubs are better placed at all times to win it than Arsenal because of the many number of top class players at the 5 big clubs that are rivals to Arsenal to win the PL Title since the adventure of Abram Abramovich to Chelsea whose adventure to Chelsea has seen the club won virtually all the Titles that are winnable domestically and in Europe?
Hi Samuel
In reality big businesses borrow and invest massive amounts of money to be the top brands. Liverpool and Man City use that strategy. Don’t believe that businesses do not borrow large amounts of money to keep their brand in top, football or otherwise. That is completely wrong in reality and at basis. It is a choice. Unfortunately the fact that both Liverpool and Man City have used the invest model to achieve success, is in reality a successful model as they are the top teams, and are far from going out of business. Rarely does Kroenke’s model bring success, even if it prevents loss.
I am one of the many Arsenal fans who have been apportioning blames to Stan kroenke for his being a close-fist owner of Arsenal FC who has not been making sufficient funds available for Arsenal to sign many top class players who can positively impacted a PL and Ucl Titles win for the club with minimal delays.
However, after a 2nd thought and having realised that Stan Kroenke is a sport outfits investor who has established a sporting business franchise, the KSE for business profit making, one cannot really blame him if he does not pump part of his personal owned asset money into Arsenal FC because he doesn’t have the passion for doing that like e.g. Abram Abremovich the Chelsea owner does. But Kroenke preferred the cut your coat according to your pocket model approach for Arsenal i.e. self sustainability model. Which in business orientation is true and good.
Nevertheless, in the modern era in professional football club ownership management where the craze to win Titles by all means has eroded self sustainability model of financing a football club to win Titles has become the trend, how can Arsenal FC them compete favourably with their PL Title win rival clubs to win the PL Title when their PL Title win rival clubs are better placed at all times to win it than Arsenal because of the many number of top class players at the 5 big clubs that are rivals to Arsenal to win the PL Title since the adventure of Abram Abramovich to Chelsea whose adventure to Chelsea has seen the club won virtually all the Titles that are winnable domestically and in Europe?
So tired of Ramsey already. Underperforming most of his career when he’s not parked on injury shelf. Got his wish of playing centrally higher up and not only was he abysmal, the team suffered tremendously.
Do people realize Ozil tracked back more than Ramsey FFS! There was a reason Emery subbed Ramsey, and notice the team played better?
Can’t polish a turd I’m afraid, and 10 years of his underperforming is enough. Hopefully Emery benches him not appease him.
Right on the money.
Ramsey is not good enough nor quick enough to play as a 10, and he is not reliable or dsisciplined enough for a 6.
At best he’s a very lousy 8 but he slows things down because he hadn’t got vision and speed of thought so he turns in circles and delays attacks whilst the opposition get back into position to defend, killing off our movement and space.
When he charges into the box he gets in the way of better players who can actually finish better than he can (they tend not to shoot straight at the keeper most of the time), and his inappropriate tricks and flicks usually cost us possession so are pointless and counter-productive for the most part.
I really don’t see a place for him in the team, he gets injured too often, and I don’t think he’s worth 150k a week, never mind more.
If he wasn’t British the fans and the media would climb him like a tree.
MikeSA very well put sir!
Your post was a perfect summary of Ramsey’s 10 year career at Arsenal.
Virtually no improvement during that time, and his decision making is nonexistent for such an important position.
Firstly, if you see any lineup with Ramsey, Bellerin and/or Xhaka, just know its a loss for the Arsenal by 3+ goals, plain and simple. Because all of those guys are championship level players and I wonder why fans keep on considering them in their preferred lineups.
Secondly, if Emery is to play a 4-2-3-1 formation then Iwobi has to start on the left at all cost, because none of Ozil, Ramsey and their friends are wingers. Also we cannot play 4-4-2 formation with Auba and Laca since it will require Ozil to be benched for Iwobi/Welbeck on the left and Mkitaryan on the right.
Best lineup is actually 3-5-2 formation that can accomodate more wingers and offset our weak midfield and the wingbacks don’t all have to be defenders!! because chelsea was using Victor moses (winger) as right wingback.
Leno
Mustafi…….Mavropanos…..Sokratis
Lichtsteiner…Torreira…Mkitaryan…Welbeck
Iwobi
Lacazette……Aubameyang
With this lineup, we are sure to get a win of more than 2 goals against chelsea (pressing, crisp passing and no passengers
Hi Samuel
In reality big businesses borrow and invest massive amounts of money to be the top brands. Liverpool and Man City use that strategy. Don’t believe that businesses do not borrow large amounts of money to keep their brand in top, football or otherwise. That is completely wrong in reality and at basis. It is a choice. Unfortunately the fact that both Liverpool and Man City have used the invest model to achieve success, is in reality a successful model as they are the top teams, and are far from going out of business. Rarely does Kroenke’s model bring success, even if it prevents loss.