Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey respect tells us everything

Alexandre Lacazette, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and others have heralded the influence of Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal and recognised the respect he deserves. It tells us a lot about the player, his standing in the squad, and his future.

The future of Aaron Ramsey is the biggest issue that Arsenal must solve between now and the start of the new season. The midfielder has just one year remaining on his current contract and the Gunners could be forced to sell if the delay in talks extends any further. At this point, it’s all up in the air.

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But there are some clues that we can glean from his teammates’ and manager’s comments in recent days. Take Alexandre Lacazette, for instance, calling him a ‘legend’ of the club:

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"“He is like a legend at the club. We have to be respectful for everything he has done and of course, with his quality, he can help the team to be better. He brings stability, quality and leadership.”"

In a similar vein, this is what Henrikh Mkhitaryan about the Welsh midfielder when he was asked about the standing his teammates holds in the squad and the uncertainty of the future:

"“He has been at this club for 10 years already and it seems he has become a symbol for this club. I will be very happy for him if he is going to sign a new contract because he is [part of the] history of Arsenal already and I hope he can become a legend. His work rate is high and everyone appreciates what he does on the pitch and off the pitch because he is a true professional.”"

There is a clear respect, almost a reverence, for Ramsey and his play that illustrates the command that he has as one of the most senior players at the club. He is looked up to, championed, listened to and followed, both as a player on the pitch and as a leader in the dressing room. For those who aren’t so convinced of his qualities, they just need to ask what his teammates think to discern a more rounded and perhaps accurate view.

Moreover, the fact that both players are so bullish in their praise of Ramsey does heavily imply that, not only do they want him to stay, but that they think he will stay. That is a sentiment echoed by Head Coach Unai Emery. Speaking after the draw with Atletico Madrid on Thursday, Emery stated:

"“Aaron is an important player for us, and the contract is one thing for the club and the player. For me, I want him to stay with us, to work with us, to give the team the big performance. I think he is going to stay here with us.”"

Obviously, this is not a confirmation of Ramsey’s staying. But equally, the very fact that Emery, Mkhitaryan and Lacazette are speaking so openly, candidly and positively about the situation is hardly hiding the saga. It is revealing that they are willing to be so honest publicly about Ramsey and his future.

I do believe that Ramsey will stay. There has been little to suggest otherwise. And these comments only reinforce that belief, as well as shedding a little light on the qualities that he brings to this Arsenal team.