ARSENAL have known for some time they would have to get used to life without Aaron Ramsey. Ever since he opted not to sign a new contract last summer, the writing was on the wall, and in February it was confirmed that he will leave London for Juventus on a Bosman free transfer this summer.
Despite that, he has become increasingly important to Unai Emery’s team over the course of the season—and, after the injury he suffered in the Europa League, the Gunners will now have to find a way to win without him.
In fairness to Emery, he did spend the first half of the season trying to help Arsenal move on from their number eight. The Welshman became a somewhat peripheral figure, starting the majority of matches on the bench while Emery sought to evolve the beyond a reliance on Ramsey.
3️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ Games
6️⃣4️⃣ GoalsHas Aaron Ramsey played his last game for Arsenal? pic.twitter.com/oEi0ltQJFd
— Goal (@goal) April 19, 2019
However, when the big games came around, Ramsey would inevitably be recalled. As the season wore on, it became increasingly clear that although Ramsey’s future lay elsewhere, his heart and mind were still firmly with Arsenal. When Arsenal slumped to a dismal 3-1 defeat at Rennes, Emery’s credibility was under as much threat as the Gunners’ chances of Champions League qualification. Emery responded by installing Ramsey at the heart of his midfield, and he has been instrumental in the subsequent upsurge in Arsenal’s form.
All season, Emery has struggled to achieve an effective balance between defence and attack. Ramsey’s box-to-box style went some way towards solving that issue. Although a very different player, he almost managed the same trick Santi Cazorla pulled a few years ago, of single-handedly connecting a disjointed Arsenal team.
Until the 34th minute of Arsenal’s second leg against Napoli, that is. Ramsey went to ground clutching at his hamstring, and Arsenal fans immediately feared the worst: there would have been a cruel poetry to Ramsey’s Arsenal career ending on Italian soil, shortly before he leaves the Premier League for Serie A. Fortunately, this is not one of Ramsey’s more serious injuries. Early prognoses suggest he could be out for “two or three weeks”.
However, the injury is a timely reminder of Ramsey’s physical frailty. Unfortunately this incredibly athletic player is also cursed with predisposition to muscular injuries. It’s very likely that his tendency to sit out considerable spells contributed to Arsenal’s decision to withdraw from contract negotiations.
The fact he hasn’t been a regular for large parts of the season is probably what’s enabled him to remain fit. With Arsenal’s season approaching the crunch, Ramsey was asked to start three games in the space of a week—the two Napoli ties sandwiching the Premier League match with Watford. Under that strain, he broke down.
Aaron Ramsey went off with a hamstring injury in last night's game with Napoli – Could this have been the last time we saw him in an Arsenal shirt? pic.twitter.com/rLl91Y9w3M
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 19, 2019
Ramsey’s focus will now be on getting back to fitness before the end of the season. In the meantime, Arsenal must manage without him. Even a fortnight’s absence—which seems like a very optimistic timeline—would see him miss four crucial games.
Emery has a number of potential solutions, depending on the system he selects. Against Napoli, he was playing with three at the back, with Ramsey operating as a floating number ten behind two strikers. In Mesut Ozil he has an obvious alternative: few coaches have the luxury of one of the world’s most gifted playmakers among their substitutes.
Emery has been a bit loathe to use Ozil away from home, and understandably so. In that case, he could simply bring in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who replaced Ramsey as a substitute against Napoli. Although he has spent much of his career as a wide player, he has the attributes to replicate Ramsey’s busy performances as an advanced number eight. There may also have to be tactical tweaks for other players. The likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira could be asked to play higher up the pitch than they’re accustomed to.
Arsenal will miss Ramsey enormously. The last few weeks have underlined that fact. They now need to find a winning formula without him—in both the short and long-term. There is a good chance that Ramsey will be back to take his Arsenal bow before the end of the season. However, unless Emery can balance his side without the Welshman, thee may be little to play for by the time Ramsey returns.
