Arsenal: Tough luck Aaron Ramsey may have faith tested again

Arsenal once shafted Super Rambo for Santi Cazorla, albeit for just cause. But a second time around may test the faith of the loyal Welshman.

Arsenal’s top performer, up until recently, was Aaron Ramsey. Even now he belongs in the conversation, despite missing the past two matches with a hamstring injury. Perhaps not unrelated, the Gunners have managed just one goal against two bottom-feeding teams in his absence.

It paints the picture of a needed piece of the puzzle. Ramsey is still tied for the most goal contributions on the team with his three goals and six assists. There’s no hiding just how important he has been.

Since his injury, the Gunners have swapped the back three, which shielded Ramsey like his time with Wales in Euro 2016 and beyond, and replaced it with the back four that ousted him, leaving him without the freedom he needed to be successful.

While it struggled to punch through against West Ham, it looked to make a major breakthrough against Newcastle United, and will be used until Welsh Xavi’s return… and beyond?

Ramsey has been here before. The last time he faced a similar situation was when he was injured following a tremendous 2013/14 season. When he came back from injury, he found Santi Cazorla in his place and was shoe-horned out to the right wing, which led to frustrations that evolved into flirtatious dreams of Barcelona.

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Ramsey is due back in three weeks. That’s a long time for the back four to work some magic and convince Wenger that it works better than the back three. Arsene Wenger loves sticking to what works. If the back four is working, there is a good chance that Wenger sticks with it.

And, as of now, Jack Wilshere and Alex Iwobi are playing the flanking game next to Granit Xhaka. Neither has been spectacular, but both have been good, with Wilshere skewing into great. Still, they inherited a potentially beneficial situation and so long as neither of them becomes a liability in the following weeks, they could fortify their position in a winning formula and convince Wenger that no changes need to be made.

Which could put Ramsey in a situation of needing to win his spot back. It’s not the most obnoxious thing in the world, people have to do it all the time, but he should not have to. It would be a pure Wenger construct if he did have to. That is his spot and he should go right back into it.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Newcastle

The formation is another story, but we will cross that bridge when we get there. Until then, all we can do is wait for his return to health.

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