The Metro says “Aaron Ramsey selection for City encounter baffles Arsenal fans”
Are we winning the midfield battle?
By Cameron Wolfe
I wonder if those same Arsenal fans were still baffled after the game had finished.
I thought for most of the game we were awesome. We played once again as a team from front to back and definitely dominated the midfield.
For the fifth Premier league game we defended well. We definitely had the best chances and even had more possession (52%). More importantly we bossed the midfield. This was down to the four midfielders interchanging and closing down City at every opportunity. At the heart of it was Aaron Ramsey.
It was great to see him start a game for Arsenal and even better to see him still there at the end. After he came on late in the Southampton game last week I was impressed by how effortlessly he slotted in. He was always driving forward, willing to take a shot at goal and closing down the opposition when he needed to.
Against City he started the game just as he finished last week. It would be hard to single out anyone in particular as man of the match but Aaron would have to been there or there abouts for the award.
Are we now seeing what Arsene Wenger saw when he first signed the young Welshman at only eighteen? I think we are. He’s a genuine midfielder. He can motor box to box. He likes to shoot when in a good position even from outside the box and he’s not afraid to tackle. Even after suffering that awful leg break two and a half years ago. After missing a more than whole season out recovering from the break and then being loaned out to build up his fitness/sharpness. He’s now at least getting back to his very best.
With a midfield of Diaby, Arteta, Santi and Ramsey. We were more than a match for City who boast some of the most expensive players in the EPL. With Jack and Thomas almost back to full fitness. Not counting the others who are pushing for a first team place then we can hope to have the strength and depth to compete on all fronts this season.
Once again looking at the bench during the City game. It’s more than encouraging (Keeper aside) to see a strong bench. As has been proved time and again it’s bringing on a proven experienced player at crucial times that can be game changing. Over the next few months injures aside we should have that in abundance.
Dominating the midfield is crucial in any football game but more so in the EPL. It’s the teams who boss the midfield and create the chances that end up winning the games. Against City with a little luck and better finishing we could have easily came away with three well won points.
After the match Arsene said “It’s down to consistency and what happened today should strengthen our belief”
If we keep on playing the way we have been since the start of the season then theirs no reason we shouldn’t be pushing the other teams even closer come May.
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@Cameron – good write up and couldn’t have come at a better time as I’d voted for Ramsey as my man of the match.
Ramsey is a player of conviction and one for the future…I think from the current crop barring JW, I think he is one player who I would hate to go. I have mentioned this about half a dozen times on Untold itself that once this guy finds his range then the number of goals from midfield is going to increase quite a lot. He is consistent with his performance and that is why Wenger gives him some match time when he doesn’t make a start! Unlike Walcott, this guy’s learning curve is always going up and you can see that his output from training reflect on the performance on the pitch! The next best candidate after JW for captaincy…he has that leadership.
No happier man than me when I see a young player come back from such a terrible injury that might have killed his career. And who know where he would have stood now if he hadn’t lost around 2 years because of that sick tackle. He would have stood much further in his learning curve.
Last season he started very well but then ran out of fuel and the sudden death of his Welsh mentor threw a big shadow over him. Don’t forget it was Speed who made him captain at such a young age so we can assume they had a good bond and that his death will have a big impact on Aaron.
Now we have more options in midfield and certainly with the return of Jack and Rosicky very soon now we will have enough players to rotate and not to burn him down like last year.
I think lets a spade a spade. this was not a game that Ramsey did perform apart from the pass he gave Gervinho and the collusion with Gervinho he did not offer anything. If it were not for Jenkison and Arteta forced to fill up the gaps that he left we would have been talking a different story. He could not track down his opponent after he lost the ball. In that game He & Diaby were the greatest liability of the team. We are Gunners we don’t accept average mediocre performance as good enough we have standards that we need to accept. I guess you have to look again at the game and analysis it. On this you got it very wrong. Ramsey on my rating 3-4 out of 10. He has potential but his decision making is poor, passing average, tackling ability ??? questionable. He & Diaby are the reason Podolski was lost coz he had to help out Arteta. If we want to win big we have to take risks like the one we took @ Saints game give players who have the skill & passion like Coquelin, AOC…. their rightful chances. Coz they deliver when they are given the chance. I said it , the king is naked.
Wamukota, the new Arsene Wenger has arrived.
So Wamukota we should play AOC each and every minute of each and every game. Yeah that looks a great idea. Lets burn him out so you can come over here in a few months and spread your wisdom and say how bad he is. Maybe the name Wilshere should ring a bell to why AOC will not be played each game.
Well, the difference is which half of the glass are you willing to see: the full one or the empty one:)
One thing Ramsey is not is a player of explosion. He’s merely a metronome, a constant performer that finds strength in the continuity. A totally different breed compared to Arshavin, for instance. The good thing about him is that once he will have reached the high level we all know he can get to, he will stay there for a long time.
@ wamukota
Coquelin????….and passion. He is Suarez of midfielders. I hate divers and more so if they wear red and white.
@Wamukota at 9:18 am
How odd? You do realize that you are at odds with the entire footballing world. Ramsey was excellent, as was Diaby. Did we really watch the same game? Are we both be guilty of confirmation bias? Anyway, Coquelin is an excellent player and will be great for Arsenal but how much of him have you seen so far to justify your comments? Weird!
@wamukota you are being ironic yes. If not. you really do not understand football and however you entertained yourself prior to watching football. I suggest you return to. My guess is it was Ben10.
I don’t understand why one pea-brain Wamukota from the gutters elicit responses from so many (even i am guilty of that but then indirectly)! You would dread to get into an argument with such juveniles (maybe I am juveniles a bad name)! Moron…
@ARSENAL 13
I do not agree with your remark regarding Coq. In fact, he is a really good midfielder, works hard and has great skill. What makes you think that he is a diver?
@ Mahesh….
Coq is a good player and has a massive potential. BUT as I said, If he can stay more on his feet…..just have a look at ARSENAL vs Southampton 58th minute. That looks obvious. I dont like ARSENAL players diving into a swimming pool like that.