Does Aaron Ramsey Deserve More Respect? by Dan Smith
Over the years we have watched Arsenal players force moves through to our rivals. If they base their decision on wanting more money or having more of a chance of winning silverware, we are not understanding. Yet the Aaron Ramsey saga shows clubs can be just as disloyal. Here’s a decade long employee who wants to stay who has seen his employers go back on their word.
Chairmen can’t have it both ways. If it were the player refusing to negotiate he would be reminded how we developed him since a teenager and stuck with him through injuries. If the Welshmen publicly made it clear his desire was to leave as a free agent, he would be criticised for being motivated by money. Yet when it’s Arsenal who don’t want the midfielder, we pat them on the back for not paying over the odds. Instead of sympathy for Rambo, we mock him, say he’s not good enough. Because Uni Emery thinks he doesn’t fit into his system Gooners feel they can’t question it. If it were the other way around, we turn on the player.
This isn’t about if you think Ramsey deserves 200,000 pounds a week. It doesn’t matter if you think he’s overrated or not. The fact is he’s given us 10-year service at which point he’s always been a professional and done his best, so I think he’s entitled to know why his bosses have gone back on their word. In his last year Arsene Wenger spoke about the traditions of the club and how he feared we were at times going against our values. It’s safe to say if the Frenchmen was still at the Emirates, Ramsey’s deal would have been extended by now. Even if there was a reason to end talks, there would have been a relationship where all parties would know where they stood. Some have criticised our ex-boss for being too close to his squad who took advantage. It certainly seems to have improved individuals’ mentality to have someone in charge with zero sentiment. This isn’t Uni Emery’s fault. He’s made it clear he’s sticking strictly to on-field matters and holds no prejudice to Ramsey. Ramsey is experiencing what all fans have been going through since Stan Kroenke brought his first shares, a lack of clarity.
Why did one week they think he was certain value and the next not?
Has there been a change in our budget?
Did our new boss tell the board the player wouldn’t be guaranteed starting every week?
Why not just the withdrawal but refusal to bargain anymore?
We didn’t like how certain names left North London, feeling they could have shown more respect. It works both ways….