It wasn’t long ago that Arsenal fans were desperately clamouring for that world class signing. There was a revolutionary feel to the summer as player after player slipped the net, to leave much of the Arsenal faithful in a state of despondency.
Fast-forward two and a bit months on and some might wonder what all the fuss was about. Sitting pretty at the summit of the Premier League, with top-level continental football on the horizon after Christmas, Arsenal fans must be in dreamland.
Last nights victory over Borussia Dortmund at the intimidating Westfalenstadion was the first by an English club and capped off an impressive start to the campaign for the gunners. Wenger’s men may have been largely on the back foot throughout, but Arsenal showed a degree of resilience that perhaps wasn’t there a few seasons ago. At the forefront of everything good about the gunners these days is the previously maligned Aaron Ramsey, and few would have been surprised to see him pop up with the winner last night.
The career revival of the young Welshman has been meteoric. He was always rated highly from a young age, but an infamous leg break cause by a tackle from Ryan Shawcross put pay to much of his early development. Indeed loss of form after his recovery left many questioning whether the youngster would ever be able to realise his undoubted potential. On the periphery of what is an immense Arsenal midfield it was perhaps difficult to see him ever having an impact in North London.
Arsenal fans yearned for that big money signing, but in Aaron Ramsey they may just feel like they got a cheap alternative.
The Welshman has spearheaded Arsenal’s rise to the summit, eleven goals already to go with an impressive haul of assists and it is unsurprising that many have branded him player of the season so far. An industrious attacking force, Ramsey adds direction and forward thrust to a midfield often criticised for being a little tentative. Comfortable in possession deep, or playing in and around the frontman, Ramsey is the kind of asset that Arsenal looked for in the summer. A pass completion of 86% to go with thirteen chances created in the league, his ability to involve others is equally as impressive as his goal scoring return.
For Arsene Wenger this return to form was not so much a surprise, more an eventual inevitability. Speaking after last night’s win he had the following to say about the Welsh midfielder:
“Ramsey just shows how difficult it is to have assessment on any player. One year ago everyone said he can’t score. He’s in the box in right positions but he can’t score. This season he scores in game after game.”
“I was always positive with him. When you watch his games he was always in situations where he could be dangerous. This season he has the confidence and he has an unbelievable engine to get from box to box. His ability makes him a dangerous player.”
Naturally football is a confidence driven game, but considering how quick we are to castigate Wenger for Arsenal’s shortcomings it is perhaps time to commend him on the way he has got the very best out of his players this term. Ramsey was a player going nowhere last season, on the transfer market I doubt you would have got more than £10m for someone that appeared bereft of any real spark. Now Wenger has somehow got the Welshman’s confidence back and he is beginning to flourish for it.
You only have to listen to the midfielder speak to realise that not only is assured about his performances, but that he is genuinely enjoying life in North London:
“I’m enjoying myself at the moment and everything seems to be going in. I’m delighted with the way I’m playing and the goals I’m scoring but it was a great team effort and we are delighted with that.
“It was a proper away performance, defending well and going on the counter-attack. They are no mugs, they got the final last year and were unlucky, they are a very strong team and we had to do our defensive work really well. We’re delighted with that.”
Maybe the old adage, ‘form is temporary class is permanent’ applies here. No one ever doubted Ramsey’s ability, more the chance that he would ever live up to it once more.
A player brought back from the brink, is the revival of Ramsey as good as a new signing for Arsenal?
