Arsenal: Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey debate answers itself

Arsenal have a decision to make going up against Manchester City, but if the question is as one-dimensional as it seems, it’ll be easy.

Putting Ostersunds FK out of our memories, we look forward to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. One debate in particular that seems to be weighing on people’s minds is, assuming Arsenal have to choose between Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, who starts?

If the question is that one-dimensional, it shouldn’t even be a question that we’re asking or deliberating about. I love Wilshere, we all do (except Roy Keane) but he does not hold a candle to Ramsey in the Welshman’s current form, which doesn’t look as affected by rust as he was expected to be.

Ramsey returned to action against Swansea and while he was generally ineffective in that match, he bagged a hat trick in his following match against Everton in what has to be one of the best midfielder performances in some time.

It’s a simple matter of what you think the team needs more. Does the team need a swivel midfielder who can help in the transition game or do they need a world-beater who has the indelible ability to score and assist with ease?

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Sorry, it’s the latter. Against City, stringing together the perfect collection of passes and intricate plays isn’t going to work. They’re too good of a team. The Gunners need to strike fast, be in the right places and, when the opportunity comes, for the love of God, just put it away (looking at you, Danny Welbeck).

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Ramsey is a threat to goal, he is a workhorse, a game-changer and a conduit. Wilshere is a pivot, a determined individual and a craftsman. Each has their use, each has their benefit. It’s just that against City, Ramsey’s skill set wins out.

Of course, this is all assuming it really is this one-dimensional, which it might not be. If Wenger goes with the 4-3-3, it depends on if he keeps the faith in Mohamed Elneny. Personally, I wouldn’t. I’d got offensive overload and start Ramsey and Wilshere flanking Granit Xhaka.

But this is Wenger, and Wenger isn’t that type of manager. He will most likely go with what failed us so immensely against Tottenham and leave Elneny back there and then force himself to choose between the Ramsey and Wilshere.

There aren’t any do-overs in this match. No ‘damn, we’ll fix that next time.’ This is a major opportunity to show everyone that this team is for real going forward. You want your biggest threats out there on the pitch in that kind of situation.

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Ramsey is a bigger threat. Plain and simple.

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