Arsenal: Last week proves Aaron Ramsey importance

Aaron Ramsey will not play another minute for Arsenal. Last week’s results and performances in his absence are proof of his unrivalled importance.

The value of Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal has almost always been debated. A player of unquestioned ability, like many of his teammates throughout the latter half of Arsene Wenger’s tenure, his production never quite seemed to match his talent.

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Led primarily by the idiot that is Piers Morgan, some saw Ramsey as an overrated fraud, celebrated by the darling-adorning media who were blinded by his all-action style and innate Britishness that allegedly forever championed.

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That was always an overly harsh reading of the situation. Ramsey was certainly not a world-class midfielder, not by his production at least, but to degrade of him any utility whatsoever as Morgan and the key midfielder’s detractors often did is to deny him his true value: a competent, all-round midfielder who has an influence on every aspect of the game.

As confirmed this week in a heartwarming comment by Unai Emery, Ramsey has played his last game for the club. He will join Juventus when his contract expires at the end of the season. When asked about Ramsey, Emery said:

"“We can’t use him, injuries come for players like that and we have players who can play. But he was in a good moment when he took this injury. I had a good experience with him, he transmitted his energy and his heart is red like Arsenal. I wanted to enjoy this with him. I said to him I wanted to do something important with you. Aaron played so many years here, he is so important for the club and the players because he did so much for the new players. He signed for Juventus but he is still a professional and always fought for the club. Some other players might stop fighting – but he loves this club so he stayed 100 per cent. He has a great mentality. I will miss him a lot – we have good memories.”"

But if you want a true look at what Ramsey really means to Arsenal, and what impact his departure will have with requisite spending to replace him, reflect on the last three performances without the marauding Welshman bounding from corner flag to corner flag, seemingly on an intrepid endeavour to touch every single blade of grass with his vein-coursing legs.

Three games against middling to lesser Premier League teams. Three defeats. Nine goals conceded. Just three scored, one of which was a meaningless consolation from a corner kick. Not only were last week’s results disastrous, but the performances to accompany lacked any semblance of the qualities that Ramsey unquestionably brings to the table: energy, legs, incision, attacking purpose, goals.

A very worrying and very noticeable Ramsey-shaped hole opened up in the heart of the Arsenal midfield. The Mohamed Elneny and Matteo Guendouzi pairing against Crystal Palace was inevitably sub-standard. Then the aimless attacking trio of Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan proceeded to offer as much drive as a car with no clutch. And then Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira were completely overrun just four days later.

Ramsey was needed last week. And his absence — or the effects that his absence had — proves his importance. He will take some replacing, no matter what Piers Morgan may say otherwise.