Aaron Ramsey set the Arsenal world alight last season with his breathtaking influential performances last season and scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final was his zenith. However, with such high standards set last season, it was only normal for the fans to at least, expect more from the ‘Welsh Jesus’. He began the season well by scoring Arsenal’s second goal in the Community Shield and a week later he netted the winning goal in the Gunners victory over Crystal Palace.
He got on everyone’s bad books when he got sent off against Besiktas but as the weeks progressed, the goals dried up for the midfielder and he made it a personal quest of his to get among the goals for the team rather than focusing on doing his job on the pitch. Then a recurrence of his December 2013 hamstring occurred in the North London derby and he was sidelined for a considerable chunk of time. With many midfielders playing in superb form, there was no pressing need to bring Ramsey back but he made a comeback against Galatasaray and scored one of the best goals I’ve ever seen as a football fan.
Ramsey has notched up six goals for the Gunners this season but his overall play has been a real cause for concern this season. Somehow the ghosts of the 2011/12 season are hovering around the Welshman and he doesn’t seem to do the ‘simple things’ anymore. Now, he’s all about trying to over elaborate things and making that odd pass. My most concerning issue about Ramsey this season has been the way he surrenders possession to the oppositions and more times without number, he has put the team in a precarious situation.
Arsene Wenger was right to place him on the bench against Leicester on Tuesday but as the game progressed, Leicester gained some momentum after scoring their goal, so it was important to bring a player of Ramsey’s abilities to add steel to the midfield. After spending less than 10 minutes or so on the pitch, Ramsey hit the turf and signalled to the bench that his time was up. The midfielder tried to stand up again but when he hit the deck the second time coupled with Mathieu Flamini stripping for action, the writing was on the wall that he had suffered another muscular injury.
Wenger’s post-match press conference didn’t help matters as the manager clearly stated that he was ‘worried’ about the Ramsey injury situation,
“It looks like a hamstring [injury]. I don’t know yet how bad it is but visually it didn’t look good, when a guy stops straightaway and sits down, it’s not good news. He has a recurrence of a few muscular injuries. We haven’t found out why”
According to the Telegraph, Ramsey is set to be out for four weeks. There’s also a potential for that time to be extended as Wenger would want to allow the Welshman recover fully before bringing him back into action. This also means that Ramsey is set to miss this weekend’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Middlesbrough, as well as the Champions League clash with AS Monaco. There are two Premier League fixtures against Everton and QPR around the horizon with the second leg against the French juggernauts at St. Louis III Stadium.
With Jack Wilshere still out injured, Ramsey’s absence would pave the way to either Tomas Rosicky getting an extended run of games, or Mesut Ozil returning to the middle with a more natural winger playing on the left wing in his stead. Like Ozil, I hope Ramsey returns stronger and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Sayonara.
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