Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey replacement must be better in one area

As Aaron Ramsey prepares to say goodbye to Arsenal and a replacement is sought, there is one area in which his successor must be better than him: availability.

There is a saying in sports: ‘Your best ability is your availability.’ — I am not actually sure where it originates from, but it sounds nice and makes a solid point. For Arsenal, this has been most true.

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Jack Wilshere was one of the brightest 16-year-old footballers that I have ever seen. His career was ravaged only in the same way that his ankles were and he never delivered on his talent. Eduardo’s broken leg in that fateful 2008/09 season in which the Gunners were on course for a title. He was never the same afterwards. Robin van Persie not realising his greatness until 28 because of the relentless onslaught of injuries.

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And then there is Aaron Ramsey, a player who can be very much likened to Wilshere, a complete midfielder, with maturity beyond his years but a body that simply did not allow him to shine. Ramsey legitimately had a claim to become one of the best central midfielders in the world. Because of injuries, I am not sure he ever even became the best central midfielder in his own team.

As Arsenal look to the future, one that will not include the Welshman who moves to Juventus in the summer at the expiration of his contract, they will be tasked with trying to find a replacement for one of the most unique positions and players in the sport: the goalscoring central midfielder. Not a creative number 10. Not an attacking midfielder. Not a winger. An all-encompassing, highly active, box-to-box central midfielder.

That will be a difficult challenge as it is. But in succeeding Ramsey, they must try and go one better than the longest-serving player at the club. There is one area in which Ramsey’s successor must outperform Ramsey: availability.

Ramsey was never as productive — and thereby valuable — as he should have been. He was better than the product that he put on the field, not through any fault of his own, simply through misfortune through injuries and squad rotation. If Arsenal are to successful succeed him, signing a midfielder who is as productive is a necessity.

But being ‘as productive’ does not necessarily mean ‘as good’. Even if a worse but more consistent player was signed, someone who could guarantee ten-plus goals and assists a season through the sheer number of minutes they played, that might actually make the midfield as a whole better. Not because Ramsey has been improved on per se, but because you get 80% of Ramsey for 100% of the time.

It is cruelly fitting that Ramsey’s time in north London ends with a hamstring injury. But really, injuries have defined his time at the club, not his talent. That is what his successor must overcome.