Why Arsenal must properly replace Aaron Ramsey

May 17, 2014; Wembley Stadium. Arsenal are 2-0 down inside nine minutes against an underdog Hull City. Fan-favorite Santi Cazorla pegs one back less than ten minutes later. Laurent Koscielny restores parody halfway through the second frame. With the prospect of an FA Cup final coming down to penalties looming, Aaron Ramsey slots home after an Olivier Giroud backheel. It would be the goal to end Arsenal’s decade-long trophy drought.

The Caerphilly-native would turn hero yet again three years later, scoring his second FA Cup-winning goal; this time against rivals Chelsea. Wembley may have been his stomping ground, but Ramsey was very much at home at Arsenal, the club who saw him mature from a bright-eyed youngster to cult-status icon over eleven seasons.

As we say goodbye to arguably one of the best players in the Emirates era, the question – like so many others we must now tackle – is a simple one; how do we replace Aaron Ramsey?

Let us analyse the different aspects Aaron Ramsey brought to Arsenal over the years. In fairness, it would be hard to argue that the Welsh international has been anything more than inconsistent. This is not to take anything away from his overall achievements, however. 64 goals and 62 assists in across 369 appearances in all competitions is nothing to sneeze at. Though his average goal contributions to date put him at 0.34/match – far behind Cazorla (0.41) and Cesc Fàbregas (0.49) – it was Ramsey’s come back from a near-career-ending injury, Cup-winning goals, and diehard commitment to the club that have many calling him a club legend. Failing to make a concerted effort to replace a player of his quality, influence on the pitch, and full-on commitment to the cause would be egregious in the extreme.

The missing Ramsey effect

He may not have the prestigious numbers of players like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, or even Cesc, but the undeniable truth is that Ramsey has been absolutely vital for Arsenal. This season served up arguably the best evidence to support this.

The immediate past provides a starting point for some hard reading. In our last 4 Premier League outings – Palace, Wolves, Leicester, and Brighton – we failed to win a single one. All without Ramsey. Looking back further makes for similar reading.

In the 1-0 loss to Everton a month ago, Ramsey did not feature in the starting XI. The same can be said for our 3-1 loss at City, and the 1-0 defeat at West Ham. Can we and do we win without him? Yes, but the same issues in the performance persist.

All in all, eight of our ten league defeats have come when Ramsey did not feature or was brought off the bench. The opening match of the season against City and the 5-1 drubbing at Anfield stand as the only two instances that saw us drop all three points where he was involved from the off.

Without the talismanic Welshman, we just are not the same. His goal contributions aside, Ramsey in the team is so much more than a player who can bag a goal. Unlike Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, and Mattéo Guendouzi, Ramsey is the only central midfielder at the club whose has the ability to exploit space created in front of him in the half-spaces and make late runs into the area effectively. At his best, his contributions in the final third give that additional defensive headache for the deep blocks we so often encounter, especially away from the Emirates. With Rammer, we are a nightmare to defend against. Without him, we struggle.

Replacing Ramsey from within?

Discussions surrounding what we have available to spend this summer are increasing by the day. Yesterday GFFN tweeted that the club will have between 30-40m to spend. Our own analysis via Nate Smith cites a much more likely figure commensurate with realistic financial expectations supported by the windfall from the new Adidas deal. Either way, the club is not in the position to have a summer that would rival the likes of City and Liverpool.

Much of the transfer talk has surrounded the notion of bringing in a centre-back to command the back line, a left-back upgrade on Sead Kolasinac, and a genuine wide player. Add to the list right-back over/long-term development in Héctor Bellerín’s wake, and a central midfielder to replace Ramsey, it’s difficult to think the club will put itself in a position to handle the needs of the team via the market alone.

It has been mentioned before that our current crop of central players have shown no ability to emulate what Ramsey does for us. Some have suggested that Emile Smith-Rowe could be the heir-apparent. Alex Iwobi has also been mentioned as a ball-carrying central player that could drive us forward. The best option – in my estimation – is a player who currently is not playing in the middle of the park at all; Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Quick, willing to work, and good on the ball, the qualities Maitland-Niles has shown as deputy right-back in Bellerín’s absence very easily translate into midfield. However, with both Stephan Lichsteiner and Carl Jenkinson likely out the door this summer, only deploying funds in the direction of a new right-back would save the youth academy product from the right side of the defense.

A Checkbook solution

It remains unclear what business Arsenal will conduct in the summer. One can surmise that there will be reinforcements in defense and most likely a winger. What we currently cannot account for is how much we will be spending in those areas.

With a reported interest in the likes of Nicolas Pépé, Ryan Fraser, and Wilfried Zaha to solve our issues out wide, and the need for us to replace lost playing personnel, we may have to be creative in replacing the former Cardiff youth standout.

With Raul Sanllehi at the helm of the club, Unai Emery’s connection to Sevilla, and both having ample experience in La Liga, one touted solution that has begun to turn a head or two is Pablo Sarabia. Here is TFA’s Tom Canton with a little insight on the mercurial creator;

Sarabia is arguably La Liga’s best-kept secret. Signed from Getafe, Sarabia has gone on to become one of Sevilla’s best weapons. With an ability to be deployed both centrally and on the right-side of midfield, his versatility has led to the Spaniard being directly involved in thirty-nine goals this season. A Ramsey replacement? Possibly even a Ramsey upgrade.

Another name cropping up of late – in no small part to his role in our 1-1 draw against Brighton – is young French midfielder Yves Bissouma. Though large portions of the fanbase have begun to consider the likes of James Maddison, a re-deployed Julian Brandt, and his midfield partner and generational talent Kai Havertz amongst others, it is unlikely that the club will look to the midfield for their big money signing in the summer. Finding a value for money answer in the market is likely the most prudent solution.

It’s more than FA Cup lore

There is an undeniable sense of gratitude for Aaron Ramsey amongst the Arsenal faithful. Credit for our recent FA Cup triumphs cannot be taken away from the entire team, but an aura of borderline hero worship has surrounded Ramsey for his direct involvement in ended the trophy drought.

To come back from an injury as serious as his, one that many other footballers would have retired from either directly or since then, and then put himself on the line for the club is worthy of admiration.

This is a club that is built on the back of legends, past and present. A large portion of Arsenal supporters of the millions that reside around the world are of a younger generation; too young to remember 1970-71 and Bertie Mee, Charlie George, George Graham, Pat Rice, and Frank McLintock.

Others still are unable to recall ’89 and the host of titans who brought sheer joy and pandemonium to north London. But there will be multiple generations that can look back on Ramsey’s achievements and our recent Cup-winning moments fondly.

Replacing Aaron Ramsey is more than just replacing a player, it’s replacing an ideal. To fight against all odds, no matter the cost. To live and breathe the club. To wear the badge with the utmost honor and respect. To find your home. Replacing Aaron James Ramsey – a should-be captain – is arguably the most important piece of business we have to conduct this summer. Our very identity depends on it.