It was just a few short years ago when many Arsenal fans, myself included, believed that the Gunners would have gone on to lift the Premier League trophy if it was not for injury problems hitting our squad at just the wrong time, especially the loss of the Wales international midfield star Aaron Ramsey.
It had taken the Welshman some time to fully regain his fitness, form and confidence after that potentially career ending tackle from the Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross but this was the season when Rambo really hit top gear. He was winning the Premier League player of the month regularly, scoring plenty of goals including some real crackers and the Gunners were almost always clear at the top of the league table.
Then on Boxing Day Ramsey picked up a muscle problem in his thigh and was not seen for Arsenal again until almost four months later, buy which time our challenge for the EPL trophy was gone and we ended up finishing in fourth place. He did help us to end the long trophy drought with an extra time winner in the FA cup final but you could not help but think what might have been had he not been injured or had only been out for a short spell.
All this seems a distant memory now and although I have long championed the 26-year old I would not be too bothered if he does not play for Arsenal; again this season, so poor have his performances been. With that in mind I find it hard to be too worried about the so-called ‘warning’ issued by the former Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas in Metro about us losing Ramsey in the transfer market if Mesut Ozil decides to stay.
He said, ‘If Ozil signs, he [Ramsey] will go.
‘Because he plays that role, Cazorila is coming back next season [even though] he’s getting on in years.
‘Where’s he going to fit in?’
There is always the chance that Ramsey might rediscover that form of the 2013-14 season but then again he might not. I would rather have Jack Wilshere back at Arsenal to be honest, so do we care if Ozil signing a new contract would see Ramsey leave?
Bob.