Arsene Wenger says it’s ‘unbelievable’ how few matches Aaron Ramsey has started in the Premier League this season and hopes the Welshman, who he compares to Frank Lampard, can have a strong end to the season now that he’s fit.
The midfielder had hoped to build on his terrific showing at EURO 2016 with a strong showing on the domestic front this term, however, a series of niggly injuries have condemned him to just 15 starts in all competitions; by far the fewest he’s made in a season since the aftermath of the Shawcross leg-break incident.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City, Wenger lamented the problems that have peppered Ramsey’s season but underlined his belief that the player still has the talent to deliver at the highest level.
“In my head Ramsey was going to be a player between 10 and 15 goals a year,” the manager told Arsenal Player.
“He is a Frank Lampard type. He is [about] getting in the box and he has a huge capacity to run. Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is certainly the best in the league.
“This season has been very frustrating for Aaron. I looked the other day, he has started seven games in the Premier League. When I realised that, it was unbelievable, but it’s because of injuries – and not big ones. Every time it’s a niggling one and when he came back from those – boom – a little calf – boom – a little hamstring.
“He looked fit on Monday but I hope he will have a strong end to the season because he is an important player for me. He has it all in the locker to be defensive and offensive. So that is for me a vital part of the game we want to play. We do not only want to defend, we want to defend and attack.
“These kind of players are very important. I also think he is at his best age as a midfielder when you look at it at the start of the season. He is a player who can take the role of Mesut Ozil. When Ozil needs a breather you can play Aaron there, but he was not there earlier this season.”
Wenger also called on his so-called British core to take responsibility for the team’s performances, both in the short and long-term.
“Yes, of course [they are important],” he noted. “But what I love above a passport are players who integrate the values of the club. That is the most important. And they have to be ready to defend these values.
“It’s more natural for local players because they have been educated in Arsenal — players like Ramsey, Chamberlain. They have to take charge of the future of the club.
“They should lead and take responsibility to say ‘yes, that is how we want to behave, this is how we want to play, let’s go together.’
“If they didn’t want it, that would be a huge disappointment. A lot is said about my future but my future is more important in the value and spirit of what we have built in 20 years than my own person.
“These guys have to take charge of what we have built and the values of the club. We are a club that are admired for that.
“We have supporters all over the world because of that…the values that this club represents. It’s not only for the trophies that we win that is important. It’s also about the way you behave, the way you think.”
That’s why Arsenal will never go higher.
Wenger has gradually become deluded, believing sub-standard players can become world beaters. He has given way too many players too many chances. Obviously the players like to get new chances, but he is not holding them accountable when they don’t deliver and then we don’t win games. Sad it has come to this.
Wenger has gradually become a polician. I dont really pay much attention to what he says nowadays.
Politician*
Polician* #wengerOUT
“They should lead and take responsibility to say ‘yes, that is how we want to behave, this is how we want to play, let’s go together.’
“If they didn’t want it, that would be a huge disappointment.
“These guys have to take charge of what we have built and the values of the club.”
Is this not holding the players you dislike so much accountable??
Maybe if you really want to see it differently you will, regardless.
Appealing to the ‘English lads just want it more’ mentality. A philosophy that Wenger has fought to debunk his entire managerial career. I’m not sure even Wenger knows what Wenger wants from his players anymore.
Wenger’s been building an English core for the past five years–he’s very publicly clearly stated since then that he thinks that such a core is necessary to maintain continuity at the club. He also stated that such cores add to the character of the club and can help with issues such as loyalty. Given how he made the best team in history, and they pretty much just did whatever they wanted within a few seasons, it makes a lot of sense as to why he believes this now, as opposed to earlier. Wenger fought the “English lads want it more”… Read more »
And this is a huge blind spot you have Arsene. You tried to convince us that players like Denilson were good enough. Ramsey is a decent player who excels playing in championship level Wales. He is not good enough to play for the Arsenal. His immediate lack of awareness is staggering and most don’t seem to see it. Comparing him to Lampard is both embarrassing and absurd. I think he could be a star in teams like Hull or Watford. Remember when Barcelona were gonna offer £50 million for him ???????
I used to defend Ramsey because of that season he had three years ago but now, I am done with it. Couldn’t believe Wenger is still talking about him this way after the defensive blunder against West Brom.
Ramsey probably is one of the most maligned player at arsenal and I’m not sure he deserves it. For one till last season he was always played on the wings because Santo was always preferred at the centre midfield . and whenever he got a chance to play in centre midfield that he had play with coquelin and flaminy . all three of them are similar kind of all action players, so they won’t work together well. Coquelin-santi works so well because santi is more of a laid back player which complements coquelins style. The point is Ramsey is a… Read more »
The only time Ramsey looked any good was when he had Mikel Arteta cleaning up after him. He hasn’t been wasted, he’s been over-rated and favoured to a sickening extent. Ramsey is a galactico in his head, a selfish glory boy with a jammy streak, who doesn’t seem to be able to play with anyone. Ramsey and Wilshere are the poster boys for everything that’s wrong with the team at the moment, but they’re british, so that’s OK then?
Yep. He’s definitely staying. Feet are sounding more under the table by the day.
The ‘british core’ dont have the required quality to play for Arsenal
So Ramsey a Ox aren’t good enough? Unbelievable.
Ramsey isn’t, not even close
The gap between what’s in AWs head and what’s reality has increased massively in the last few years.
For all those nights that Ramsey was the worst player on the pitch and still was NEVER substituted…there’s the answer for us. Finally some closure…
These two must go asap, Arsene and Aaron
What the fuck is Arsene on about. His quotes get more fuckin bizarre by the minute
When I was reading, I was thinking oh boy sucks for Chamberlain because he also wants that central position, and if it’s there for Ramsey in the long run, would he stay with us to be played on the wing or when Ramsey is injured? Chamberlain is very young still, but given Ramsey’s injury record, could you really rely on Ramsey as a man for that position week after week?
It’s like, the more closely I examine Arsenal, the more instability I see. What has happened to us?
Wenger
I get this sense that Wenger just seems to be winging it now.
Almost like how anyone who has become an expert at a job or at public speaking becomes so comfortable that they prepare less and less for each speech they have to make, knowing they have the knowledge and experience to wing it. Believing people cant notice they’re winging it.
Till one day they wake up and realise people hire them less and less because these new modern speakers are so much better.
Keep the Ox. Ramsey meh. ……
Arsene says something quite fundamental about the values of the club he has enhanced so much on the domestic & world stage. Then we get comments like these, it seems few care about the values of the club, well I do! It may be time for a change but just a bit of respect please.
The problem isn’t the values of the club, the problem is the application to reality. 1. Wenger is making a case that British lads want it more, after spending 90% of his career making a case against it lack of consistency. 2. Maybe he’s still burnt by Cesc leaving to Spain and us losing all our top foreign players, but to claim our British lads will stay because the values of the club resonates with them is naive. Even worse is he uses Ramsey to make his case, the one British player MOST likely to leave us if he ever… Read more »
He’s not making the case that British Players want it more.
He’s saying they NEED TO want it more.
Finally he is calling them out on their poor performances.
I think 2013/2014 was the only year ramsey played so good, after that he is average. Wenger see him as the like of Lampard? Maybe that’s why he always tryhard to score even when his team mate was free and had better position than him.
@2 years…..Ramsey is not a team player imo..Too much showboating not enough technique or spacial awareness…
Ramsey didn’t get the nickname Welsh Jesus for no reason in 2013/14. It is blindingly obvious that injuries have stopped him getting anywhere near the form shown that season but the boy does have it somewhere in his locker. Wenger wants to see it and is trying to encourage it out of him and there’s nothing wrong with that.
2014/2015;2015/2016;2016/2017.
It’s time to move on, find a new good player, replace him, don’t waste another year waiting him back to his 13/14 form, it’s not likely to happens, we can see it.
Could he not just do all this tokenistic nonsense in private? Instead of insulting our intelligence by publicly exalting the virtues of a perennially under performing player.
I was at some of those games and it wasn’t a season it was a few months. Anything he tried came off in a lot of those games. There were other games he was absolutely pants and then got the winner and the myth was well and truly born (Welsh Jesus) ?) how many other players have had one of seasons or few months and then became the player they really are.
That season was kinda infuriating from Arsenal fans.
Ramsey was actually so pants in so many games but scored a belter and it was like fans completely ignored the fact he was poor and if you tried to mention it, you got shot down for not believing in the myth of the Welsh Jesus.
That was probably the least creative team we’ve ever had. It’s part of the reason Ramsey was able to shine. It was also Ozil’s first season and he struck up an immediate understanding with him so all those things counted in his favor.
I kept the faith with Rambo until last season but enough is enough. Wenger should view last season as definitive proof that Ramsey (and Giroud, Walcott, Coquelin etc) might be great for periods of a season but will never put it together for 38-games.
Exactly this.
Welsh Jesus is an ironic nickname in the same way Romford Pele was for Ray Parlour
not true John
So that effectively concludes the Ramsey issue.
He is staying here next season if Wenger remains in charge(looking increasingly likely every moment).
So next season we are still gonna see our midfield struggle whenever Santi is not playing??
For Christ’s sake, offload this guy for 20 odd million and get a new midfielder who can gel in with all of the other players-Coq, Xhaka and Mo
How much ever Wenger tries to convince us and himself, Ramsey is not that guy.
This is the worst of it.
Our midfield is perenially unbalanced BECAUSE Wenger is seemingly building it for Ramsey.
Xhaka was effectively an upgraded Arteta for Ramsey. Problem is without Santi we don’t have any dribbling ball-carriers in our midfield (other than Ox and Jack).
Problem is, no one wonders what difference would’ve been if Wenger had implemented his plan of Xhaka-Ramsey? As neither are ball carriers.
“Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is certainly the best in the league.”
So in which league is N’golo Kanté exactly?
Feel sorry for Ramsey, as every time we lose he and Mesut cop all the flack, but seriously wow after being built up like that it’s hardly surprising…
I’m no Ramsey hater but comparing him to Lampard is just embarrassing. Lampard was incredibly consistent, putting in high quality performances season after season for years, precisely the thing that Ramsey has lacked. How long do we keep him in hope he’ll recover the magic of that one season?
Ramsey…. Like a new signing lol
Its become very depressing reading arsenal blogs in recent months (the comments in particular) especially when you are trying to maintain a positive outlook on life in general. The level of negativity is so pathetic you could easily forget theres life outside sports too.I hope we turn the coner soon.
Comparing Ramsey (who indeed no.10 probably is his best position) to Ozil kinda says it all, especially as when he speaks of Ramsey, it’s all in the athletic sense; speed, engine, power, etc. Doesn’t rate him in the technical sense. All this also explains why he will always play Ramsey ahead of guys like Elneny. But worst yet is ths naivety about expecting the likes of Ramsey to take control of the future of the club. The same Ramsey that when things were going well, was talking about one day playing for Spain? Ramsey has no loyalty to Arsenal, let’s… Read more »
What values? The values where are board and manager are comfortable lying to fans and players? The values where our manager doesn’t feel he owes it to the club, players and fans alike, to be forthcoming about his future? This same particular value we allow and encourage our best players to copy? The values where the club is in the most turmoil it’s ever faced this side of the century and the CEO and Fusieholder say nothing? The values that allow Arsene to berate fans? The values that allow our players to come out after a 3-0 humiliation and say… Read more »
Well said my friend. I hear people talking about how embarrassing unhappy fans are and how we should show “respect” and it drives me up the wall. Arsenal takes advantage of the fact that most fans will keep it respectable no matter how bad it gets. They take advantage of our short memories, hoping we’ll forget statements like “judge me in May”. The fact that someone at the club feeds that sanctimonious little snake John Cross stories and that thousands of people gather under his and Piers Morgan social media feeds to discuss our club makes me sick. Those two… Read more »
Let Gazidis go to America , then get David Dein back…..He was the only guy with backbone in the boardroom
Wenger the Poet, he’s too forgiving when things go wrong..Highly payed Arsenal players must take account of their performances, not leave the poor results for Wenger and his team to eulogise every time Arsenal lose on the pitch. Arsenal will lose today because of the mentality that has grown into the Club. Wenger will move not of his own accord but the Supporters are going to decide his future, and it’s going to happen.
I love Ramsey and I know the potential he has but, the thing I hate about guys like Ramsey is they need a run of games to get to a certain level and big clubs can’t afford to have underperforming players like him.
the future is shite, the future is Ramsey The only British core i give a fuck about is this one: Willock——–Mavadidi——–Nketiah ——–Nelson——-Maitland-Niles—- —————–Sheaf——————- Bramall—————-Holding——— —————-Macey——————- A more mobile replacement for Chambers and a British RB and that’s a team i would gladly watch develop through into the first team to compete with bought foreign talent. There’s more technical ability in that lot (even at this u21 level) then in any of our current first team British treatment table twats. The only one who has enough technical ability is Wilshere and he is unfortunately broken beyond repair and the only one… Read more »
Couldn’t have said it better myself mate
I wonder if anyone’s given consideration to us being dismally poor this season because of all of the negativity coming from the fans that want rid of wenger at all costs? Fair enough, purport an anti-Wenger agenda, it’s your prerogative, but don’t then moan about players performing poorly because ultimately, they’re having to deal with the increased level of scrutiny and pressure and that has an impact on the pitch. Many of you will completely disagree with this and think that my perspective is exactly what’s wrong with other fans, I understand that. My point though, is that the time… Read more »
Reading the comments, you’d think the British core have been our worst performers this season, the ones that let us down at crucial moments. But nothing could be further from the truth, they’re an easy target though strangely. As for Ramsey, I’ve admittedly lost patience lately but truth is he isnt shit, but also isnt playing close to his potentual
Nice, Arsene talks about Arsenal values and the we-know-better-than-Arsene experts inhabiting social media show a lack of appreciation of what he is trying to say and go on about how Ramsey. I remember the brickbats out for Kos so will just wait for the eventual turnaround that happens when the focus shifts to another Arsenal player that needs being put in place.
Values eh..
People are too obsessed with the first part of this article and have completely ignored the second part.
Wenger is essentially saying ‘I helped create these values for this club and make it bigger. No YOU (players) need to do better to defend them’.
Come on with it AW, it just has not worked out with British core. The Ox is the only one worth keeping. If AFC resigns the rest I’ll be another confirmation of our mediocrity. All the meanwhile the Sp*ds have a younger and already more talented and better performing British core. Time for AW to move on.
This mother fu…the balls. Ramsey couldn’t hold Lampards jock. Huge capacity to run? He lacks the capacity to not sit on the ground and shake his head and get subbed. Even when he’s in the game he’s a pussy and good for three head scratching passes a game. Fuck off.
Too much is made of the “British core” What made the diff today is the little players stepped up. Holding was excellent and composed. BUT Gabriel is my MOTM. He was a wall today. And Ox is in his best position. Gives us something different with ability to take players on. Also Granit was very disciplined today. Monreal made a mistake for the Aguero goal but took it on himself to make amends. And Giroud, although he did not get much joy at the goal, he plugged away at keeping the ball for us or creating some sort of outlet.… Read more »
Massive mistake by Rambo which led to the Aguero goal.
BUT it wasn’t entirely his fault as Monreal was too far off of the Argentine and Cech could have done better coming out more decisively.
Thought Rambo plugged away well today.
Neither Granit nor Ramsey are the best tacklers and our midfield still lacks holding power but they worked hard and kept their heads for most parts which was important.