Arsenal and Aaron Ramsey: Be brave with Emile Smith Rowe

Somehow, Arsenal are going to have to replace Aaron Ramsey this summer. I, however, would like to see them be brave and entrust such responsibility to Emile Smith Rowe.

Aaron Ramsey will leave Arsenal this summer. The midfielder signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus earlier in the year after the Gunners rescinded their contract offer in September. The Welshman has again been one of the key players of the team. But not for much longer.

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The impending hole he will leave in the midfield will be significant. He will take some replacing, that is for sure. And with no transfer fee recouped from his exit as his contract is merely expiring rather than being sold, that will be a whole lot harder than it already is.

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Perhaps, then, a better approach would be to promote from within. Ramsey is an extremely unique player and it would be unreasonable to expect any old midfielder to replicate his all-encompassing impact on matches. But if there is someone who has the talent, if not the experience and pedigree, then it is young midfielder, Emile Smith Rowe.

Presently on loan at RB Leipzig for the remainder of the season, Smith Rowe is hoping to force his way into the first-team squad after dealing with a groin injury. His performances between now and the end of the season could determine how Unai Emery chooses to use him next year. And Leipzig head coach Ralf Rangnick has offered his assessment of the first impression Smith Rowe has made this week:

"“He will more than likely be in the squad for the first time. He’s trained all week and gives us another option. He’s shown in training why we took him on loan. He’s got a brilliant mixture of good physique, speed and an unbelievably good shooting technique. “If the game allows it, it’s possible that we’ll bring him on.”"

Smith Rowe certainly has the potential to play the marauding Ramsey midfield role. He is technically excellent, possesses good energy, stamina and athleticism, and is capable of scoring and creating goals in the final third. But being only 18 years of age (he will turn 19 this summer), it would be a major risk to thrust such responsibility onto his shoulders.

But I would love to see Emery be brave. The worst-case scenario is that Smith Rowe fails to deliver in this more senior role and Arsenal simply have to dip back into the transfer market a year later. That is a small price to pay — a year-long delay to find a Ramsey successor — for the opportunity to find a long-term midfield solution in Smith Rowe.

It is a major risk, certainly. And I can understand why many would be cautious to make such a personnel move. But Smith Rowe has terrific potential. Why not give him every opportunity to fulfil it? You never know, Arsenal may stumble across a star.