Arsenal: Is Aaron Ramsey’s Fate Sealed On The Right Wing?

Arsenal can certainly improve their attacking options out wide. There has been  speculation of bringing in a wide attacker but Arsene Wenger may elect to play Aaron Ramsey out wide instead.

With the speedy acquisition of Swiss ace Granit Xhaka already signed and sealed, it looks like Arsenal, and most notably the team’s infamously stubborn manager Arsene Wenger, may be ready to turn a new corner when it comes to transfer market strategy.

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It’s very odd to see Wenger splash this type of cash for a player so early into the summer. Central midfield is not an area where you would say Arsenal are in the greatest need of reinforcement. Of course I welcome the addition of Xhaka, like a diabetic in need of an insulin shot. But with Mohammed Elnenny, Jack Wilshere, Santi Carzola, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and oddly enough a lingering Mathieu Flamini still plying their trade in Arsenal’s midfield, it wouldn’t have been a shocker to see the parsimonious Frenchman overlook the need for midfield steel.

So the £34 million that it cost to get Xhaka in the red and white of Arsenal is a refreshing twist indeed. However that is still quite a large chunk of cash to drop on a player who will be stepping into a congested area of the pitch. Also, with the multiple stories popping up that link the club with various  defenders, it makes you wonder if there will be enough money to spend on a wide forward this summer.

A striker is needed. Whether it be a truly world class striker like Gonzalo Higuain or even a young player with lots of potential like Alexandre Lacazette, a pretty penny is going to be spent on upgrading the point of attack.

There is a great deal of talk surrounding Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Wolfburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez. Both players are in the upper echelon of the talent pool for their positions so signing either or both of these dynamic defenders would be a very interesting departure from Wenger’s normal modus operandi.

Forgoing attacking talent for defensive depth? The world would truly go mad in that case.

But is it possible? Say both players cost around a combined £44 million, does Wenger forgo bringing in a wide player so that he can instead assemble the greatest defense Arsenal has seen in over a decade?

The answer to that could be, 8. Or rather, should I say number 8. As in Arsenal’s new number 8, Aaron Ramsey.

It can be said that Aaron Ramsey had a disappointing season last term. Like his brothers in arms Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlin, Ramsey took a step back last season in terms of production. Rambo got his chances but only scored six goals to go along with five assists over the 40 appearances he made in all competition for the Gunners. That just won’t do for a player of Ramsey’s quality. So what needs to be done?

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Many have remarked that Ramsey is at his best when he is matched perfectly with a partner that will compliment him in the midfield. Granit Xhaka could be that perfect partner, but if he isn’t  can Arsenal afford to waste a player like Ramsey on the bench?

Something tells me Arsene Wenger may be looking to make ‘Ramsey from the right’ a permanent switch. The team plays with a bit more solidity when Ramsey tucks in from the right hand side, adding strength to the midfield. He isn’t a natural wide man of course so his inclination will be to drift centrally, but that could be okay.

By cutting inside, Ramsey allows space for Hector Bellerin to find room down the flank and that could be very good thing for the Gunners going forward. Not to mention Ramsey will already be in the advanced areas that he loves so much. I can picture him making dangerous swashbuckling runs from wide positions similar to the way Thomas Muller does for Germany and Bayern Munich from time to time. Ramsey must learn to use space and timing intelligently like he did so well back in 2013/14, just from a wider area of the pitch.

Next: Determining Xhaka's Midfield Mate

Arsenal still need to buy a quality striker and center back. Will Wenger really release the funds for a pricey wide attacker as well? I doubt it, and by the looks of his new haircut, Aaron Ramsey is getting ready for life on the edge.