Expert Opinion
Rehabilitated Ramsey key to Arsenal’s future success
“I remember what happened clearly,” said Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey shortly after he sustained a sickening leg break in February 2010 against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. “I saw that my leg was broken and hanging at an angle.”
It is easy to speak of recovery from injury purely in days, weeks and months. “Rafael van der Vaart has a hamstring injury and will be out for three weeks”, “Stuart Holden has torn a knee ligament and will be out for six months”’ and so on, but what of the psychological impact of suffering such a serious setback to a career? What of the unseen torment of turning left to go into the gym alone as your teammates turn right and head out on to the training pitch? What of the niggling doubt at the back of a player’s mind each time he enters a situation even vaguely similar to the one that caused such damage to him previously?
We have seen the effect the psychological side of injury can have on top level players; Arsenal’s Eduardo was once considered one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe until Martin Taylor put paid to his left fibula and ankle in one of the more graphic injuries seen in the Premier League. His physical recovery was absolute; in a lot of cases a bone will knit back together even more strongly, but the mental effect was clear, he was tentative and his instinct and edges had been blunted. Petr Cech carries his Stephen Hunt-inflicted head injury with him wherever he goes; his shot-stopping unaffected, he appears nervous and reluctant when surrounded by bodies and high-profile errors continue to dog him.
But if Aaron Ramsey is carrying a psychological suitcase of baggage with him thanks to Ryan Shawcross, he does a very good job of hiding it. Possessing an extraordinary passing range, the young Welshman has been enjoying the consistent first-team football afforded to him by the departure of Cesc Fabregas, and the prospect of Jack Wilshere’s return alongside him must be a mouthwatering one for Arsenal fans.
While critics will point to the young Welshman’s relatively low number of assists for the Gunners, this is a red herring. Modern club football is all about fast transitional play from defence to attack, and Ramsey is highly adept at making the right decision and picking the correct pass for the situation to convert his team’s immediate priority from keeping out a goal to creating one. He is often seen at the start of moves, both in the Premier League and Champions League, picking the ball up from Song or one of his two centre backs and setting the wheels in motion. His contribution helped Arsenal qualify with relative ease from the group where other English teams have struggled.
His international pedigree is also showing signs of real development. It is obvious to point to the late Gary Speed appointing him the youngest international captain Wales have ever had, but his performance against England in September warrants real attention. Lining up in midfield against Milner, Lampard and Barry, three midfielders with immense experience in the upper echelons of the Premier League, Ramsey rarely looked overwhelmed and but for a late Robert Earnshaw miss, Wales would have had a famous draw. To captain and inspire an international team as the away team at Wembley aged just 20 is a tremendous achievement.
More importantly, he actually appears committed to Wales’s cause. Commitment to playing for an international team of minnows can often be lacking; Ryan Giggs found the transition from top-level club football to less-than-stellar international teammates difficult, but Ramsey seems deeply passionate about the land of his birth and it doesn’t seem fanciful to suggest he could go on to become a true icon in his homeland and the best Welsh player since the magnificent John Charles.
But, aside from all this, it is surely the way Ramsey acts without the ball that is the most remarkable aspect of his game, when his previous injury is considered. He still harries, he still puts his all into every tackle and refuses to shy away from trying to win the ball back. He may have Alexander Song with him more often than not as Arsenal’s principle spoiler, but that does not stop him putting his foot in when required, giving the observer reason to arrive at the conclusion that his recovery, both physically and psychologically, is absolute. Arsenal fans will be anxious to arrive to that same conclusion about another key midfielder in February, when Jack Wilshere re-enters the fray.
Related articles:
Video: Frimpong, Macheda, and Sigurdsson: Hit or miss?
Video: Should Oxlade-Chamberlain play instead of Arshavin?
Mike Calvin: Why Wenger deserves the benefit of the doubt in 2012
Adrian Clarke: Why Thierry Henry’s return will be great for Arsenal
Mike Calvin: Rambo up for the fight
Read and listen to more of Luke’s opinions on The Football Ramble podcast and website. Plus, follow Luke on Twitter @lukeymoore
Follow Life’s A Pitch on Twitter @BTLifesapitch
Watch Arsenal live on BT Vision:
Swansea v Arsenal, live 3:30pm, 15 January, Sky Sports 1
Arsenal v Man Utd, live 3:30pm, 22 January, Sky Sports 1
Not got BT Vision? Find out how to get it
Featured ContributorsMore >
-
Mike Calvin
Award-winning writer Learn more >
-
John Cross
The Daily Mirror's back page newshound Learn more >
NewsMore news >
-
Liverpool manager search continues
Liverpool will continue the process of sounding out prospective candidates for the vacant manager’s job this week. Read more >
59 mins ago -
Champions League exclusion costs Spurs
Tottenham’s exclusion from the Champions League due to Chelsea’s triumph in the tournament will cost Spurs up to £35million in cash – but the real damage could be far greater in terms of keeping their stars, say football finance experts. Read more >
2 hours ago
Most popular
4 weeks ago
Comments
Please leave your comments using the box below. Learn more
BT is not responsible for any external content or links uploaded by users of the site. Nor does the presence of information or links about other parties' products or services confer any form of endorsement of another party's products or services by BT. Please show respect to other users and avoid bad language when posting