Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey The Perfect Candidate For A ‘Gamble’

Arsenal are not known for gambling, but the boss has indicated that gambling will ensue. Where else can we successfully gamble than with Aaron Ramsey?

Arsenal’s ability (or lack thereof) to gamble has held them back in recent years. Arsene Wenger has been far more keen to play it safe and settle than he has been to take any sort of risks, even when the reward is definitely there for the taking.

However, it is clear enough lately that times are changing and Wenger has even gone so far as to point out that he is ready to gamble to keep hold of the hope of fighting into the top four. His words, as quoted by Sky Sports:

"We have to win our games and so that’s why every time we cannot be happy with 0-0. We have absolutely to take the gamble to try to win the game at any cost."

It got me thinking about what sort of gambling Wenger is ready to do and my thoughts fell on the formation. the 3-4-3 formation was a gamble in and of itself, but in terms of manning the positions, there really isn’t a need to take many gambles. They fill themselves out.

The back three is set, the two attacking midfielders are set, the wing backs are set. Striker could use some thought, but the only real position that could be considered the spot to gamble is that deep midfield position next to Granit Xhaka.

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But there is a lot of room to gamble in that spot. Obviously Aaron Ramsey is the first name that we turn to because of all the crap shoots Arsenal has on the books, no one has quite the diverse array of risk and reward as Ramsey.

The Welshman played the first three matches alongside Granit Xhaka and showed that, unsurprisingly, he was well-suited to the role.

Since then, however, Francis Coquelin, the most predictable player of them all, has been given another chance.

Mohamed Elneny still has yet to be utilized in the formation, but he, too, is fairly predictable. That’s not always a bad thing, in fact it is most often a good thing, but since Wenger is in the market for a gamble that can help him win the remaining fixtures, there is only one man he needs to turn to.

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I’m not sold on the belief that we will never see the 2013/14 Ramsey again. Maybe all he needs is an extended gamble.