Arsenal: ‘British Core’ still going strong in Aaron Ramsey

Arsenal’s once-celebrated British Core may be breaking apart, but that doesn’t mean that it’s dead. The few that remain are strong flag-bearers.

Arsenal’s “British Core” picture is making the rounds again. It became so widespread when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left that even USA Today was getting in on the “It’s all over!!!” bonanza. But what everyone seems to be missing is that the British core is not over. Not even close. In fact, I’d argue that it’s still going pretty strong in just one man – Aaron Ramsey.

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Ramsey’s “Super Rambo” season of 2013/14 seemed like something we would never see again, but even with that season being the benchmark of what we hope for out of the Welshman, it’s not like it has been complete doom and gloom since. Two game-winning goals in FA Cups are something to celebrate, for instance.

And this year, this all-important year, Aaron Ramsey is at the “core” of any success we hope to have. Parked next to Granit Xhaka, it’s been a difficult road, but that’s not necessarily because of the Welshman himself, as against Stoke he was our best performer and against Leicester City, he had a huge role to play.

Liverpool embarrassed him, but to be fair, they embarrassed everyone.

Ramsey has the heroic player mentality that not many Gunners have. As I always say, I would reckon only Alexis Sanchez and Ramsey have that mentality that if nothing else is going right, they can do it themselves.

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That’s the kind of player the Gunners need now more than ever. Especially with all the questions surrounding the team. And Ramsey has been upstanding in his handling of the season, being one of the few to consistently face the fans (which is much harder than facing the press) on social media following unacceptable losses.

The British core is still alive. It still has a beating heart. And so long as Ramsey keeps slotting home heroic goals, he will always be a huge part of this club. That same USA Today feature made the absurd claim that Ramsey can’t even be considered a first-team regular anymore, which had me writhing in mental agony.

Ramsey is the key to this midfield. If that doesn’t make him a regular, I don’t know what does.

And then there is the matter of Jack Wilshere, the wildcard. Who, believe it or not, can still grow to give this British core yet another stoic leader.

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Don’t buy into the general malaise surrounding the club and the future that never was. Ramsey’s success alone is enough to vindicate the British core’s existence and as I keep saying, this is his year. Just wait and see.