Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey clearly feeling a negative influence lifted

Arsenal are used to works of art like Aaron Ramsey just painted, but is there a deeper meaning to his masterclass against Everton? Methinks so.

I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but I’ll say it again – there is truly nothing quite like an Aaron Ramsey in inspired form, and nothing benefits Arsenal more. He does things that shouldn’t be easy, yet he makes them incredibly easy. Take for instance that finish that completed his hat trick. That was not and easy shot. But he couldn’t have done it any better.

On the day, Aaron Ramsey took just three shots and scored with all three. He was efficiency incarnate, not taking any ill-advised pot-shots, but firing off only when he knew he could score and, lo and behold, he did know.

Generally speaking, when Ramsey has just returned from an injury, there is a sizable period of acclimation required where he struggles to find top form. Against Swansea, we saw it get started, as he was largely ineffective, like everyone else.

But against Everton – granted, at home – everything looked different. It looked like a Ramsey that was suddenly much more comfortable with his own abilities.

Now, I’m not one to read into what I don’t know for sure, but indulge me for a bit of wild speculation.

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When Alexis Sanchez left, players were posting messages on social media that were thinly-veiled digs at how the team could truly be itself now that the Chilean was gone. No one just out and said that much, but they allowed us to read between the lines.

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I don’t think there was an Arsenal player more negatively impacted by Alexis than Ramsey. These two simply did not gel on the pitch. Both always want the ball, both want to change the game and, go figure, both can change the game.

They could often be seen spatting at each other after one or the other missed the other on a pass that would certainly have been a goal. Knowing that such consequences await you can have a toll on your mental commitment to make tough decisions, like when to shoot or when to make a run. I don’t think Ramsey was that effected by it in terms of decision making, but confidence-wise? I’m sure it had it’s inconveniences.

This season in particular, especially early on, it was clear that Ramsey was exerting more influence as the team suffered from division in the locker room and inconsistency on the pitch. Yet Ramsey was never, never as influential as he was in their first home game post-Alexis departure. In fact, he has never been that influential.

Hence my belief that Ramsey, like many others except to a larger degree, feels that weight lifted. He feels that unity that he hasn’t felt since his Super Rambo year. Which, given some good health, could mean something really special is coming.

Next: Arsenal vs Everton Player Ratings

A “new start” like this team is now beginning can and usually does have positive impacts on every player. But few would benefit from a clean slate with new team mates and new opportunity quite like Aaron Ramsey.

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