Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey deserves a proper send-off

It was confirmed in the media this week that Aaron Ramsey will leave Arsenal and be joining Juventus in the summer, ending an 11-year relationship with the Gunners. The Welshman deserves a true and proper send-off.

It was confirmed in the media this week that Aaron Ramsey will be joining Juventus in the summer, ending an 11-year relationship with the Gunners. As one of Arsenal’s standout performers for a number of years, the club should make sure they give him the send-off he deserves.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Chelsea Cleanses All

Ramsey was an outstanding performer during Saturday’s win over Chelsea and while, he wasn’t the only one, it is testament to the professionalism of a man who has always given his all for the club.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Ramsey’s time at Arsenal has included a brutal leg break, two FA Cup Final match-winning goals and a season when it looked like he could physically drag a limited team to the title. Regardless of the ups and downs, he has always played with a passion and desire that few others have matched.

On Saturday, he looked like a man who had just committed himself to the club for the next ten years, such was his energy, tenacity and willingness to chase down any lost cause. As a result of Ramsey’s work, Jorginho had one of his worst passing displays in a Chelsea shirt and, as other teams have shown, if you stop Jorginho, you go a long way to beating Chelsea. Barring perhaps Alex Iwobi, there are few players who could have executed that role to such devastating effect.

When you witness Ramsey in full flight it makes you ask yourself why Emery has been willing to discard such an important part of his squad. Indeed, when Emery arrived, he made very positive noises about the role he wanted Ramsey to play. As I look at it, the decision must have come from above him, a result of the club’s awful contract and transfer strategy from the previous seasons.

You have to feel for Ramsey, who looks like he would love to stay at the club. But he also has a fantastic opportunity to maybe go and win the Champions League, which would be a fitting new chapter in a fantastic career.

All Arsenal can do now is get everything they can out of Ramsey. He has shown time and again that he is not going to sit on the bench and run down his contract — he is still fully committed to the club and will be until the day his deal runs out.

Emery should therefore make Ramsey a central part of the fight for the top four, FA Cup and Europa League and allow him the send-off that his Arsenal career deserves.