Arsenal: Is Aaron Ramsey Behind Cazorla, Xhaka And Coquelin?

Has Aaron Ramsey’s latest injury slipped him behind the trio of Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal pecking order?

Over the past few seasons in which the perennial selling of the best players in the squad has not reared its ugly head, Arsene Wenger has very carefully, very quietly but rather efficiently assembled one of the best squads throughout his tenure at Arsenal. Consequently, there are a host of regular starters over the past few seasons that are now struggling to get any game time whatsoever.

Related Story: Arsene Wenger's Best Starting XI

Olivier Giroud has been dropped to the bench, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been usurped by Alex Iwobi and Jack Wilshere has even been sent out on loan such is the strength in the depth of the Arsenal midfield. It is the central midfield areas where this team is particularly blessed, and after missing out on much of the season due to a hamstring injury, Aaron Ramsey may well now struggle to regain his starting role.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

The Welsh international has, when fit, been a stalwart in Wenger’s midfield, either playing in a central role or wide on the right. However, with his current injury issues keeping him out til after this weekend’s international break, combined with the recent form of Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin – though he has been absent this past week, but is also expected to return imminently after initial fears were calmed – alongside latest big name signing Granit Xhaka, Ramsey faces a tough task to break back into the starting lineup.

Wenger has talked about his fancy for partnerships. This happens throughout the side; Theo Walcott and Hector Bellerin down the right flank, Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny at centre-half are a couple of prime examples. The central midfield duo who sit behind Mesut Ozil is another position where Wenger seems intent on producing not individually talented players, but collectively dominant partnerships.

That is perhaps why Xhaka himself had to wait for an unfortunate Coquelin injury to break into the side – as Wenger was seemingly unwilling to break up the Coquelin-Cazorla pair that has been so successful these past 18 months. It is also why Ramsey may have to wait a while for his return to the starting lineup. Coquelin and Cazorla is a partnership that is proven, Xhaka and Cazorla have performed well these past few games in Coquelin’s absence, and the need for Ramsey is quickly diminishing.

Perhaps, then, Wenger is looking to rotate Cazorla and Ramsey with Xhaka and Coquelin. It is certainly not far-fetched to believe that Le Prof has witnessed the breaking down of Arsenal’s talented players of years gone by in the latter half of seasons, and is looking to break the pattern with a system that relies on heavy doses of rotation.

Next: Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players In History

However, when Ramsey does eventually return from injury, he will not simply resume his role as starting midfielder, either centrally or out wide. He will have to prove his quality amid a highly competitive squad. That is a great thing for Arsenal, and Wenger will be looking for healthy competition between his many midfielders throughout this long and challenging season. Ramsey will be back, but he may have to wait his turn.