Arsenal: Few players can fill Aaron Ramsey hole

Aaron Ramsey is being increasingly linked with a move away from Arsenal with Manchester United being the latest named suitor. His departure would be disastrous; there are few players that can fill the hole he would vacate.

The summer transfer may seem like a long way away. And to some extent that is true. While the Premier League may be slithering to an anti-climatic end, with a burgeoning Europa League campaign, there is still much football to be played at Arsenal. Nevertheless, that does not mean that the planning for the personnel changes that come in the offseason has not already begun.

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As ever with this infuriating football club, despite the fans’ hopes for a summer that focuses on recruitment, perhaps the biggest questions that face this team revolve around retention. And there is one name in particular who is deserving of special mention and particular attention.

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Like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez the year prior, this summer, Aaron Ramsey will enter the final year of his current deal at the Emirates. No matter which way you cut it, that is concerning. Even if you are not the Welshman’s most vehement supporter, it is unquestionable that Arsene Wenger is, and therefore it would be foolish to believe that he would be okay with a departure at the end of the year.

Nevertheless, that is the trajectory of the reports, with first Chelsea and now Jose Mourinho and Manchester United linked with a summer swoop for the marauding midfielder. These are extremely preliminary rumours and it is difficult to believe them at this point in the year. But given the uncertainty of Ramsey’s contract situation, it is not wholly inconceivable to see an Arsenal team without their most entrenched central midfielder next season.

And that would be catastrophic for the assembly of this squad and team.

Ramsey may not be the truly world-class midfielder that Wenger perhaps believes him to be, but there are few available on the market that are capable of replicating his incessant, relentless influence at the heart of the team. His engine, first and foremost, is rare, even for a professional athlete. But when combined with his attacking creativity, his goalscoring knack, and his piercing, energetic dribbling style, and you get a rounded midfielder that is extremely difficult to find elsewhere.

Moreover, he has the natural athleticism to deal with the unique physical challenges that Premier League football poses. He is deceptively quick across the ground, especially over short distances, and he does not mind a rough-and-tumble match-up every now and then. Such a rounded and complete midfielder is rare.

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Replacing Ramsey, if he were to leave, would not be easy. Even if Arsenal were to receive a pretty penny to re-invest, there simply aren’t many players that offer the completeness of package that Ramsey does. He would vacate quite a hole that would be difficult to fill indeed.