Work Ramsey Into The Ground? by Dan Smith
What I never understood about the Alexis Sanchez saga back in January was how Arsene Wenger protected him to the last possible second at the club. Our then manager said up to the night before a trip to Bournemouth the player was in the hotel with the rest of the squad with the assumption he would start the fixture. In reality people would of been talking for months behind the scenes.
Arsenal would-ve known before Christmas a rough idea of who was willing to pay what, it’s not like they expected the Chilean to have a change of mind, having made it clear for 12 months he had no desire to be in North London
anymore. Yet in an FA Cup and League Cup tie he was rested, resting someone who wouldn’t be our problem within weeks?
Was this a case of simply protecting an investment? Was this not trusting the man’s professionalism? Well neither excluded him from leading our line in the League.
There are differences in Aaron Ramsey’s situation. This is not a man pushing to exit the Emirates, he would have signed an extension if he had his own way. Rambo might even have a desire to prove his doubters wrong and earn the contract he deems he’s worthy of. Either way if the Welshmen is deemed not worthy of a new deal it’s likely
we will be open to offers in the new year. Uni Emery already seems to have a tougher hold over the group then Arsene Wenger did in his last couple of years. Where it felt some individuals took advantage of the Frenchmen’s loyalty and love to the crest, his replacement has a more black and white stance over issues. The advantage of being new is he holds zero sentiment and can prioritise on doing whatever he needs to do to win, as it should be. The Spaniard won’t look at the human aspect, it’s not his concern how long the midfielder has been with us. Instead he will identify him as an asset and work out how to maximise his worth to the last moment. There’s a ruthlessness that will teach the dressing room who is boss. I’m starting to see there are positives that the manager doesn’t have these close bonds with his players.
Where the Gunners might try to field different elevens in the Premiership compared to the cup matches, I would play Ramsey in every minute possible. This isn’t to punish or single him out. Again this saga isn’t his fault and
I will always be grateful for his contributions in winning 3 FA Cups. But that’s the mistake the old regime would have made. They would have viewed him as being with us since a teenager and wanting to protect his development. The new boss seems to have an attitude of nothing being more important then the badge, with everything else secondary.
Where the gaffer might not want to take first teamers to Azerbaijan or the Ukraine, Ramsey’s experience could help the youngsters asked to play in midweek. Why protect his fitness? Why worry about how close he is to the red zone? In 2019 he won’t be our problem. Let him show up at his new job exhausted because he’s played 2 games a week. Hurt his impact with his new employers while helping us in the short term. It sounds ruthless but that’s what our club have lacked for years. Emery has that and I’m starting to like it.
Dan Smith