Arsenal fans have always known that Aaron Ramsey has bags of talent. He joined us in preference to Man United when he was just 18 years old after showing great at Cardiff City. It took three years for him to become a regular in the first team and Wenger used him mostly on the wings as he was learning his trade, but when he was finally given his favourite position in the middle he excelled in 2013/14 scoring 16 goals in just 34 appearances.
Since then he seemed to lose a bit of confidence, except when given a free-roving role for the Welsh national side, and didn’t seem to get so forward into goalscoring situations, and when he did he lacked the cool finishing touch. When Wenger changed his formation a year ago Ramsey was given more freedom to attack and he now seems to be relishing his role and he finally came good with his hat-trick against Everton at the weekend.
Arsene Wenger thinks that this is because he has become calmer and more assured when in front positions. The Boss said this weekend: “I felt always – when I watched the games after on the video – you think always that he is there in a good position in the box and I felt always that he had between 10 and 15 goals at least in his locker,”
“He didn’t do it until now because I think he rushed, sometimes, with his finishing. He looks much calmer. The only difference I see is that he doesn’t rush it. That’s why maybe, that’s the secret to being efficient.”
Obviously calmness comes with maturity, and although Ramsey has been with us for 9 years he has only just passed his 27th birthday, and with the boost to his confidence this week, I am really hopeful he can hit a rich vein of form and be like Frank Lampard was for Chelsea in his prime. He was one of the great box-to-box midfielders of all time and was scoring goals regularly for the Blues until he left at the age of 35. Even then he spent two more years at Man City as a supersub before going out to grass in the MLS. I can see Ramsey doing the same thing for Arsenal and becoming a true legend at the club.
Sap P