Arsenal: Grading 11 potential Aaron Ramsey replacement

9. Adrien Rabiot / Grade 3.0 / Price £0m

For the past four years or so, I’ve been rooting for Adrien Rabiot to come to Arsenal. Something about a young, frustrated midfielder who wanted the world for himself sounded like the perfect fit for a club that needed midfield strength.

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But year after year passed and he remained more and more frustrated until his falling out with PSG this year, in the final year of his contract.

Now, he can go wherever he pleases, which includes Arsenal, and while there is still a base desire to see him at the club, it wouldn’t be best to think of him as a Ramsey replacement. There has been all kinds of talk over the course of his young career about what kind of role best suits him, but I think we’ve come far enough along to know that it isn’t as a No. 10, but more of a midfield backbone, like Praet, or Granit Xhaka, or Calum Chambers.

And like I said about Praet, those latter two take precedence.

Not to mention the fact that Unai Emery tried to manage Rabiot to success during his time at PSG, but it yet again just never really worked out, leaving Rabiot with all this ability and not a lot of clarity.

Would I still take him at the club? Probably, but mostly because he’s free and talented.

Next up, No. 8.