Arsenal: Has Aaron Ramsey already left?

Aaron Ramsey will leave Arsenal this season, and the Welshman is looking increasingly disinterested when playing. He has already departed, in mind, if not in body?

The frustrating goalless draw against Sporting CP on Thursday night seemed to have lost significance because it was overshadowed by the rather horrendous injury to one of the most likeable players in the Arsenal squad, Danny Welbeck.

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With all of the Emirates wishing him a speedy recovery, the other side of the coin fills fear that it might have been the last of Welbeck in an Arsenal shirt. His contract expires at the end of the season. However, he is not the only one that may have spiritually left the club even if his physical presence still presides in north London.

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The Aaron Ramsey exit is coming. He will leave this season, whether it be in January or at the end of the year. But, in the meantime, his performances have suffered a serious dip. It seems as if the contract situation has affected him. He looks a little distracted and disinterested. His performances have been rather sluggish as a result.

His display versus Sporting, for instance, aggregated in his account of rather inconsistent and, if I am not wrong, aloof performances. He lacked creativity, those dangerous runs into the box which is a trademark of Ramsey were missing. He looked less committed, as if he was playing for namesake only. In a game in which a player of Ramsey’s quality should be bossing the midfield, he went missing. He will leave. Soon.

Nonetheless, for now, he is still here. He is still an Arsenal player. The fans still sing his name when he plays with heart and passion. So why not end this the right way, rather than making it another sad story?

Ramsey needs to understand this and give his all for the club which he loved since he was a child, the club which made him what he is today, the club that supported him unconditionally throughout his difficult times.

Ramsey still has a big role to play this season. The club, the fans and, most importantly, Ramsey himself must understand and believe this. Everybody wants to see his midfield marauding best. We all know what an on song Ramsey can do. There aren’t many better things to watch than an in form Ramsey.

It feels, at times, as if Ramsey has already left the club, as if this long, drawn-out departure is just a delayed execution, as if his physical presence is still there but his application and commitment have waned. There is, of course, still time, still time for him to produce this season. But the early signs are not promising ones.