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Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey closing book with poetic justice
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal’s win against Everton didn’t do a lick of good, but on the bright side, Aaron Ramsey may be able to kickstart something special.
This has been a season to forget for Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman just couldn’t stay healthy yet again, and when he was healthy, Arsenal had nowhere to put him. He was either forced out wide or pushed into roles with huge levels of responsibility required.
Neither of which is conducive to a free-roaming midfielder like Ramsey, who needs nothing more than acres of space, because the talent is indisputably there. There is no questioning if he has the ability to play for Arsenal. The questions have always been where he fits and if he can stay healthy.
He will be happy to see this season come to a close, no doubt. Only three goals and five assists to his name across all competitions and just over 1500 minutes played, thanks largely to the streak of form in the 3-4-3.
The match against Everton was a compressed version of Ramsey’s frustrations. Numerous times he found himself wide open in dangerous but never received the ball. Mesut Ozil inexplicably missed the Welshman’s open run through the middle of the defense. Danny Welbeck stole a ticketed header right in front of Ramsey.
It had to be frustrating for someone who just wants to lift his team and, in the process, regain his own form.
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That all came to a glorious ending in stoppage time. After this horrible season, Ramsey nabbed the ball off the foot of Alex Iwobi, spun, and placed a beautiful curler into the top right corner. It couldn’t have been placed any better.
That was his first goal of the Premier League, and it also happened to be Arsenal’s last goal of the Premier League. It was also one of Arsenal’s best goals this year.
Consider it a reminder of what Ramsey can do when he is properly integrated.
There is a lot of work that goes into fitting Ramsey where he can excel. But we have that now and maybe he isn’t the superstar that he was ticketed to becoming in 2013/14 but it’s not like his ship has sailed.
It was poetic justice that he scored such a beautiful goal. You could see the relief flush over his face. It was a pure celebration, nothing contrived about it. And if nothing else, this should be a massive confidence booster for him and for fans, who are looking at next year like it is the turning point for this club, in a good or bad way.
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Ramsey wasn’t even supposed to play against Everton, not after he subbed himself against Sunderland. The fact that he came back so soon and was able to contribute so well and score a beauty of a goal is the perfect close to a disappointing Premier League season.