Arsenal: The one absentee that is being criminally overlooked

Arsenal were without a raft of usual starters against Watford on Saturday. And it showed. However, Aaron Ramsey is the one that is being criminally overlooked when his potential influence on the game is being considered.

As Arsenal prepared to kick-off against Watford on Saturday, they did so knowing that prior results had gone their way. A draw at Anfield; a loss to Chelsea. After two losses in their first three games, they had been attempting to haul their way back into contention through the season. This was the perfect opportunity to do so. They could not capitalise.

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Even though they were gifted an utterly undeserved one-goal lead at half-time, they were unable to see it through. As the pressure built and the challenge intensified, Arsene Wenger’s side, predictably, crumbled.

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There was an element of mental distraction and disinterest that led to their second-half debacle. But, as Wenger stated after the match, the energy levels of his side had dropped, for whatever reason, especially in midfield, and it allowed Watford to grow and grow and grow as the minutes ticked by. Specifically, the pairing of Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka toiled as the game progressed. And there was one glaring absence that no one seems to be talking about.

Aaron Ramsey, per Wenger, suffered a slight muscular issue as he returned to the squad after the international break, and was, therefore, unable to ready himself for Saturday’s game. And his absence was painfully noticeable.

In midfield, Arsenal lacked the directness that Ramsey provides in his movement. There was a lack of intention and purposefulness in their attacking play, often passing aimlessly, sideways and backwards, rarely taking risks, happy to be safe and conservative.

That is exactly what Ramsey, as a risk taker, offers. Although he may lose the ball more frequently than others, he does cause problems through what he is willing to try. He will drive at defenders, he will risk the difficult, but incisive, pass, he will back his ability to create chances and score goals, even when it looks unlikely.

Moreover, he is also an extremely energetic player. He regularly tops the running charts, haring around the pitch, hounding the opposition out of possession, and always on the move when Arsenal are in possession, looking for space, darting in behind, drifting wide, dropping deep.

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Put it simply, Ramsey is a busy player. That is exactly what the Gunners were not. They were not vibrant and energetic and workmanlike; they were lethargic and slow and lax. Ramsey was a key absentee whose influence was severely missed, even if no one seems to be talking mentioning it.