Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey to Juventus best possible outcome

Aaron Ramsey is reportedly closing in on a free-agent transfer to Juventus in the summer. A move to the Italian giants would be the best possible outcome for Arsenal.

As soon as Aaron Ramsey was allowed to enter the final year of his contract in the summer, I presumed that Arsenal had a deal in place that would keep him at the Emirates into his second decade. That presumption was actually correct. As Ramsey has stated, he and the club had verbally agreed to a deal and were essentially ready to sign a new contract.

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But then Arsenal, in their infinite wisdom and foresight, suddenly realised that they could not afford that deal, rescinded their contract offer, and said to Ramsey that he could leave this year, either on a free transfer at the end of the season or in the January market — quite how they could not work that out just two months before when they still had a chance to sell the midfielder, I will never know.

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And so, the inevitable outcome was confirmed: Ramsey would leave north London. Perhaps more concerningly, Ramsey would have complete freedom to choose where he would play. From January, he could enter into discussions with foreign clubs. And then from June, he could do the same with domestic teams also. The Gunners had no power whatsoever. Ramsey had full autonomy to play wherever he wanted.

Arsenal fans have had to endure watching their players win Premier League titles with direct rivals before. Robin van Persie at Manchester United. Samir Nasri and others at Manchester City. Even Cesc Fabregas, after a short hiatus in Barcelona, at Chelsea. There has been plenty of Premier League success for players that have departed north London. And now it seemed as though Ramsey could be the next to benefit, and the next to twist the contract-laden knife.

However, this week, it surfaced that Juventus are in pole position to sign the marauding Welshman. A tad prematurely, some outlets suggested that a deal was essentially agreed on Wednesday. But what is certain is that Ramsey is testing his market and Juventus are currently leading it.

Obviously, seeing Ramsey leave is frustrating. Seeing him leave for nothing is absolutely maddening. But as soon as it became plain that he would be leaving this season back in September, the best case scenario for Arsenal would be for him to sign with a foreign club.

The last time Arsenal played Juventus was in 2006. Ramsey was still a boy at Cardiff City, the Champions League dream was well and truly alive, and Arsene Wenger was a god. Ramsey signing for a team that is unlikely to return to the Emirates any time soon is undoubtedly a good thing. I would have detested to see him in a Chelsea or Liverpool shirt. Juventus is at least tolerable.

If there was a club that I could choose Ramsey to sign for, it probably would be Juventus. Obviously, most would rather him stay. But that is not going to happen. And of all the other outcomes that could have took place, this might just be the best of them.