Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey’s production should not be missed

Aaron Ramsey is a favorite at Arsenal and fans understandably want him to stay. Replacing what he brings to the table, however, can be easier than it seems.

It’s easy for Arsenal fans to feel sentimental about replacing a player like Aaron Ramsey. They’ve watched him develop from a fresh-faced teenage prospect into a regular starter and important goalscorer.

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Since signing his current contract in December 2012, he’s had injuries and missed some large chunks of time. But he has also scored 48 of his 58 Arsenal goals during that time. And, oh, those goals!

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The winner in extra time in the come-from-behind victory for the 2014 FA Cup. The 30-yard, left-footed rocket volley against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Another FA Cup-winning strike against Chelsea in 2017. And that awkwardly beautiful reverse-chip flick against CSKA Moscow in last season’s Europa League. These goals are vividly etched into my memory.

His power extended off the pitch as well. Ramsey almost single-handedly earned Arsene Wenger two separate contract extensions through those FA Cup victories. And praise from the likes of Steven Gerrard further mythologized his legendary abilities.

Fans of the Gunners, and football fans in general, rightfully respect Ramsey’s moments of brilliance. These moments are burned into brains and hearts. But let’s not allow sentiment to cloud the view of what Aaron Ramsey is: an energetic, decent-passing, technically sound midfielder, but not much more.

There are probably thousands of midfielders in world football that fit this profile. Of those, one has to believe that there are at least a dozen that could slot into the Arsenal starting line-up. Names that have been linked in the press or on this blog over the course of Ramsey’s contract negotiations include Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski, PSG’s Adrien Rabiot, Everton loanee (via Barcelona) Andre Gomes, Fulham signing Jean-Michel Seri…the list goes on.

Looking at the current squad, there are even solutions already on the roster. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has the motor and the attacking abilities. Alex Iwobi has also shone in recent performances. And I have even written previously about the long-term possibility of Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a replacement. Youngster Emile Smith Rowe has even flashed his share of Ramsey-esque creative quality and goal-scoring ability.

Arsenal have a long record of rewarding players for what they’ve done in the past, rather than their value now and into the future. And for all the thrilling moments and glorious highlights that Ramsey has provided, he is one of many midfielders out there that can do what he does. Personally, I like him as a player and respect his dedication to the club. But his production on the pitch can be replaced. The memories he has provided will remain forever, but what he has in the future is not exclusive to him.

All we can do is wish him luck and thank him for those memories and hope that the club can find a suitable replacement. They are out there, they just need to be found.