Is Aaron Ramsey Ready To Start For Arsenal?

by AKSHAY Before the start of the season, Arsene Wenger had said in an interview that youngster Aaron Ramsey was very close to breaking through into the first team and that he had a set him a target of 15-20 games this season. Before the match against Wolves, barring his two starts in the league cup he had made only cameo appearances as a substitute in the league and Champions League, mostly replacing Fabragas and he had also scored his first Emirates and league goal for Arsenal vs. Portsmouth. So when we all would have seen the starting line up vs. Wolves we would have all been baffled. Baffled in not so much in Ramsey starting, but he was starting in place of the excellent Alex Song. After seeing the line up everyone assumed that Diaby would take up the holding role in midfield with Ramsey supporting Fabregas while going forward. But Wenger had other ideas and it was Ramsey who was the holding midfielder and that could be the reason we were struggling for the opening 20 minutes. With the injury to Diaby it forced Alex Song to come on and occupy his positi

on in front of the defence and hence releasing the shackles of Ramsey. For the rest of the game the young Welshman was very impressive, he worked his socks off for the team and was very impressive going forward and even claimed an assist for Eduardo‘s goal.

With Abou Diaby suffering another injury and with Ramsey‘s impressive performances so far and with Denilson returning it gives the manager a selection dilemma and so it should be. I personally feel that Ramsey is not yet ready for a regular starting berth in the Arsenal midfield. This is mainly due to his inexperience and poor decision making at times. In the Carling cup game against Liverpool he tried to play a cross field ball from left to right but it was a tired ball and he gave it straight to a Liverpool player who passed it to Voronin, who if wasn’t flagged offside was one on one with the goalkeeper. He played a similar ball in the first half against Wolves and put the team under pressure but luckily he was bailed out by Vermaelen. Stronger and better team will punish slack passes like those. Another Area he needs to improve is his composure when he‘s playing the final ball. In the dying stages against Tottenham when Bassong twisted his hamstring, Ramsey found himself in a 2 on 1 along with Fabregas vs. Ledley King. But instead on holding on to the ball long enough to take King out of the situation, in his eagerness he played the pass way too early and it was easily intercepted. He found himself in a similar situation in the build up to our second goal vs. Wolves. This time he played the ball to Eduardo, but again it was too early and Eduardo was not even in the penalty area. This forced the Crozilian to attempt to chip the keeper and fortunately for us his chip took a deflection and nestled at the back of the net.

Ramsey is an exceptional talent don’‘t get me wrong he is very tidy in possession and has great vision and will turn to be a great player for Arsenal, but at the moment he is breathing down the neck of Diaby and Denilson but still needs to improve certain aspects of his game to claim a starting berth.

What do you think?