The third in our series on Aaron Ramsey is penned by James “Raul” Stokes. James is a regular blogger of delicious post and this is a particularly succulent titbit .You can , and should, find James at ” The Armchair Gooner” and on twitter @JamesRaulStokes
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Meteoric rises aren’t uncommon place in football. Every so often, a player leaps majestically from the waters of obscurity like a glorious salmon to land smack-bang into our collective consciousness. It usually only takes a mere moment of brilliance to catapult a young man into the throes of superstardom. Some reside there for years, others only enjoy the success fleetingly. Few can claim to have gone through the entire gamut of emotions before bursting through as Aaron Ramsey can.
Potential
When Aaron arrived from Cardiff City in 2008 for the seemingly paltry sum of £5m, I knew little or nothing about him, only that it was well documented he was one to watch for the future. Having beaten off the grubby advances of Sir Alex Ferguson and his assembled minions to secure the deal, Arsene Wenger was delighted to have gotten his man. Whilst appearances were few and far between, reserved usually for cup ties against so-called ‘lesser opponents’, there were immediate signs of Aaron’s potential and ability; he had a good touch, determination and an engine to rival that of a Ford Mustang.
Now, as with any blathery piece of writing pertaining to Aaron Ramsey, we all know what follows the initial parts of his Arsenal career. One moment the young Welshman was dancing through the midfield exchanging passes with Cesc Fabregas, the next his leg broken in two thanks to the neolithic contribution of one of football’s greatest morons. It shouldn’t be underestimated how much impact, both physical and mental, that Shawcross challenge had. Imagine a similar situation befalling yourself; the world is your oyster, only for that bright future to be taken away and replaced by the very real prospect of your career being completely in tatters. Personally I can’t relate to it, and I sincerely hope I’ll never have to.
Maligned
The road to recovery was one wrought with peril and apoplexy. From this point, I should be honest and admit that I am one of the people who doubted Aaron’s ability to succeed at Arsenal. Not because I believed he lacked the ability or desire, but because of that injury. Past occurrences of a similar nature have seen both Abou Diaby and Eduardo have promising tenures cut drastically short. A compelling case can be presented for both players having never fully recovered from their respective injuries. I feared Aaron would very much go the same route.
For a long period, his performances, whilst some distance from woeful, fell short of the high standards we would expect from him. I see no issue with saying that. I’m sure most Arsenal fans, and Aaron himself, would admit it. What he was subjected to from a certain element, however, was truly appalling. Questioning a player’s ability to progress after such a harrowing event is normal, as is pointing out poor performances. What is loathsome to me is scapegoating a single player in a team sport and unleashing despicable bile across the internet at a young man simply because there’s a deep-seated hatred within you.
Every football team has its supporters and every football team has supporters to be ashamed of. Arsenal are no different. Whilst, mercifully, the anger and viciousness of some of the remarks directed at Aaron came from a select, idiotic few, it was almost impossible to ignore. Some followed the startlingly opposite stance and defended his every move with a similar opprobrium to the aforementioned detractors. My Mum always used to say to me, “James, you take the two frothing-at-the-mouth extremes and look somewhere in the middle to find the truth” and that’s the best way to look at the situation.
Realisation
To his immeasurable credit, Aaron never gave up, he never went missing on the pitch and always maintained a high level of professionalism. Even on the days nothing went right for him on the pitch and the cacophony of dissenting voices echoed throughout the stadium his head never dropped and he kept trying to make things happen. When you consider the emotional turmoil heaped upon a boy of his meagre years, I find that to be truly remarkable.
And it has paid off in spades. Slowly but surely he began to show us what he was truly capable off, his performances began to catch the eye and those voices of hatred became less apparent. In the past 18-20 months, Aaron Ramsey has rightfully established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe, the previous season being the breakthrough his perseverance warranted. There was a time I would have struggled to see a place for him in the starting 11, now it’s inconceivable to selected our best side without him in it.
I didn’t think he’d come back from that injury. I was wholly, breathtakingly, unabashedly wrong and I have no qualms admitting that. Aaron deserves each and every plaudit, each fantastic moment on the pitch and all the numerous, glorious moments I am sure will follow. I think the best way to end this conglomeration of words is with a brief moment of cogitation. Picture Aaron wheeling away, glee etched across his face, as he scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final and ponder wether you’d have believed it likely as little as two years ago. I didn’t, but I’d wager Arsene Wenger did. That’s why I’m sat behind a computer desk and he’s managing a football team at the highest level.
Positively Arsenal 
NB, Title used and appreciated.
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A very nice rare-bit of a Post, too.
Aaron has always been someone I have admired from when he first joined us, although like the author I knew little about him other than that Manure had put up news of his ‘capture’ on their website only to have to ignominiously take it down shortly after.
I feared the worst for him when news came through that his leg was close to being amputated, and then again when many fans were only to quick to loudly criticise him when he was on the long road to recovery.
Now it is almost universally recognised that he is a great talent and a fantastic player for the Arsenal.
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james raul stokes…hmmmmmmmm……ive seen the name before cant remember where
its all nice to show the respect and recognition aaron deserves but i take note of the last para. yes james raul stokes ..thats why youre sat behind a computer and arsene is where he is.
the point of the ramsey story is not ramsey’s rise necessarily (the signs were there from the start) but the sickening behaviour of fans of arsenal not showing faith to their manager and his methods and allowing popular media/narratives to form their opinions on our players.
wenger was ‘educating’ aaron playing him in various roles and positions but the fans in their frustrations started calling him shit and not good enough……mainly because the media had programmed the arsenal fan to think that it was a travesty not to spend and win titles in a period of massive transition for the football club.
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Very good James although I think you are preaching to the converted here
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>> “Every football team has its supporters and every football team has supporters to be ashamed of. Arsenal are no different”
Isn’t that the truth
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My pleasure George, always happy to help.
A nice write up James, I still have a feeling of sickning shock when I think back to that day Shawcross made that tackle. But gladly, Rambo is on his way back to be one of the best midfielders in the PL.
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JR
well done & a nice writeup. I agree with most what you say except one part in the middle pointing out ” the other extreme on the right who praised AARONS every move”.
I salute these in this category for if it wasn’t for them AR would have had no support at all through some of the darkest day of his life and career.
As we all know many in the middle are silent and fall in the followers category. AARON is made of stern metal both physically and mentally. We had two or three players that could not handle the constant negativity and were not able to pull themselves out of situation. Therefore they either choose the exit door or were respectfully shown it. Such is the makeup of a confidence player. They live or die with the fans support or lack thereof.
Bless her soul for she only wanted the best for you and she might even have been right in many people’s mind. Going through life straddling the middle road is safe and non-controversial and non-eventful and all that. for it the way is set up , it’s the people with opinions and ideas that take action whom are leading and shaping the world we live in. in all areas of life.. Going out on a limb isn’t really that difficult. It just takes a different kind of makeup in personality.
ANICOLL 5
how many hours again since we haven’t announced a top top quality player signing?? I’m dieing here? Lol.
Sami? Mathieu?? Bender?? No??
Nothing.
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I know Kam – usual dithering from AW while shrewd operators like Jose and Brendan R Hoover up all the top players !
I’m think “MARCH”
#WengerOut
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Very good post. Another on my favorite subject. Although, I must take exception to my unwavering support for Aaron being called a “frothing-at-the-mouth extreme.” With all due respect to the author, when you lump me in with those cretins who abused him, I’m going to be highly insulted and really pretty pissed off. I’m tired of people saying “well, if you didn’t admit he was bad then, you were delusional”. I call bullshit on that. I’m don’t know why I’m surprised that no one will own up to having abused him. It seems everyone was just “rightly” pointing out his poor performances, but apparently no one who abused him, called him horrible things, and wanted him sold can be located. I’ll bet Aaron could find them.
I am proud of the fact that I always backed him. Always. That’s the way I support. And if someone thinks that’s “extreme” then I can’t help them. In my opinion, that’s a means of trying to make yourself feel better about having been an asshole…as well as colossally wrong. The idea that unwavering support for a player who wears your club’s shirt, and leaves everything on the pitch every time he sets foot on it, is somehow equated with abuse as something that should be questioned…that’s just patently nonsense.
James, this isn’t directed at you, and I’m apologize for the rant. Thank you for what was really a delightful post. But you unfortunately pushed one of my buttons…(banned smiley)
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I’m against unwavering support if it means we cant be critical. But I never saw anything much to be critical of.
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In my opinion, that’s a means of trying to make yourself feel better about having been an asshole
ruthless finishing!!!!! stands up and claps.
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I cannot believe you have all been hoodwinked by ramsey?
He is a complete and utter disgrace and is not fit to wear the shirt.
How can we support a man who openly spits in public?
I am outraged!
Yours,
Disgusted of Guildford
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“Not fit to wear the shirt”
How I miss those 6 little words
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Layksite, from last night.
Sorry, but I don’t think you got my “More tea vicar” quote. I wasn’t referring to religion, more an (admittedly obscure!) reference to victorian values; abstinence, wholesomeness and strict moral codes.
All I was saying is that I think the criticism of Jack went way over the top, as the football365 links Fins posted fantastically captured.
Good day to you
The Bishop of Bath & Wells
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everything ramsey suffered was never the fault of his own.
some hated him because he was another young player replacing some experienced who left us. he didnt buy himself or stop the club from buying older players.
some blamed him for being injured when we needed him. but he didnt break his own leg or pay shawcross to do what stoke do better that play football.
some other hated him for coming back slowly and not being at his very best almost immediately. well it’s not his fault that they were idiots.
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Even being Welsh not down to him Layks
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After all the help and support of the club, what did ramsey go and do? Throw it back in their faces. Pathetic, he could have done things differently if he had the guts and moral fortitude, but no… He chose to be Welsh….
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Of course you can be critical, George. My issue was with being called “extreme” if I chose not to. That’s all.
*nods to Hunter* I learned from the best, dear.
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there are some among the fans who dont even like to see young players come into the club let alone play in the first team. so when young players eventually get their chances to impress, this set of fans only watch out for their mistakes. they are quick to point out their weaknesses. they try to point out what a far more experienced player would do. the danger in that is that they fail to see what these young players are good at or do better than the older ones. hence thay miss out on their steady development. for instance, i was very impressed with wojo on his debut against manure. but there were some who were complaining about his wayward shooting and distribution.
so when ramsey was shawcrossed, and was out for over a year, this set of fans didnt see any sence in waiting for him to come back to his best. because they didnt know how good he was before the injury.
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There is nothing wrong with being constructively critical. I have at times done just that in regards some players , THE ARSENAL PR department even members of the management. I have been wrong and right in equal measure, in retrospect. How one qualifies shouting obscenity at a player coming back from a career ending injury for making the wrong pass or wrong decision as constructive criticism is beyond me. Heartless.
AARON being where he is today is nothing short of a minor miracle. If you don’t believe me ask ABU & EDUARDO. all credit to him and the managers around him for working hard and having patiance to get to the promised land and I hope to see him there for many years to come. Everyone on that squad should look up at AR and follow his work ethics and mental fortitude. Not to mention is groundedness
and intelligence on and off the pitch.
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Reports saying we are only a day or two away from kadira announcement. 150,000 / week is the stumbling block. We have offered 105,000. I think maybe we have more affordable options elsewhere. Maybe a little less experienced but young and can grow with the team to be world class.
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I enjoy the Goonersphere podcast quite a bit. Sometimes overly salacious but remarkably intelligent work full of humour. Very fine post as well, Mr. Stokes!
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there is a thin line between constructive and destructive criticism.
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The last sentence, “ That’s why I’m sat behind a computer desk and he’s managing a football team at the highest level.” Should be etched on the foreheads of the malcontent. I think its George that said, “I don’t think Arsene knows best, but I know he knows better than me”. Or something along that lines. If Gooners can learn to manage their personal expectations a whole lot better, things can be so much better. It should always be about the club.
*Nods to anicoll5*
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liverpool : most deluded club currently in football…. they think last year’s fluke, flash in the pan season is their new norm/standard. going for reus and/or di maria ? hilarious….
manu: the media van gaal wankfest is beyond sickening…lusi van gaal is a good coach no doubt but he did not discover football. i feel very safe cause nicky butt is the one who scouted herrera and decided 30m quid was good value.
chelsea: bastards …hate them soooooo much… courtois costa cesc filipe..the only ones so far doing serious business.
city: havent got a clue what theyre doing ohter than gettign sagna…
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shity are getting mangala, hunter.
but i’m less concerned about what others do as long as we do ours.
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george whats the latest on sami?
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Let me add my welcome to James to making a contribution to this series of appreciation blogs to Aaron Ramsey. Some may argue that George may be gilding the lily with this love-in but something tells me that AR is going to take it to another level next season. He is at the right age and from all reports he is training like a demon. If my intuition is right these articles will make the authors seem like prophets.
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Thanks James.
I too didn’t think he could make it back from such a severe injury. But he did!
Obviously there’s a little bit of luck in there but he has been not just a credit to himself, his family and all his coaches but to the much maligned club physios too.
The loans upon his return worked a treat, but he also needed that time to recover and to develop in the first team too I guess.
Same deal for LJW, who needs a season free of any further trauma. The WC could have worked in his favour. Did not play in too many games, a warm up for pre-season which he might have needed following a lay off.
Loved the comments from Diaby on his appreciation of the clubs support, his understanding of the class and quality that is reflected within that support, and his desire to repay that support. No doubt just a little inspired by the rousing songs he recieved from the Away Boyz on his return last season. I know that some were singing just for fun, it’s is enjoyable and fun to sing after all, but there were enough in that crowd who appreciated the talent of the player. Great stuff.
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“This leaves Cesc in a kind of limbo. Neither of the clubs that he wants to play for want him, so he will wind up playing for Chelsea: A club for whom he has no love, and under Mourinho: a coach for whom he most likely has even less. Ironically, he will probably win more there than he ever did with his two loves, but somewhere deep down he may come to know the sad truth of the last three years”
Fantastic article. I don’t expect a Barcelona fan to consider that perhaps Xavi should have been dropped and Cesc asked to re-adapt to the deeper midfield role much earlier on, perhaps in 12/13. If the Marquis wasn’t having it, then I can’t imagine any Barca fans wanting Xavi dropped! Spain’s performance against Holland was a strong indication that Xavi’s legs were not what they once were. But as an Arsenal fan I don’t care!
Most disturbing line in the article for me was the admission that Bunga Bunga Barcelona have been playing Messi with through hamstring troubles, when he really should be resting/recovering. That is bad! As we could see in the WC final, he was doing exactly the same thing, walking about under advice from physios who would have prefered for him to be recuperating. If a player can’t sprint during a game of football, then perhaps they should be spending that time in the gym? He’s not been treated as an athlete, but as a commodity. Shades of Ronaldo the Great? It’d be tragic if Messi’s career prematurely tailed off like Torres as a result of the mismanagement of his injuries. If not the slowing Xavi, then Messi really should’ve been rested and Barcelona should’ve played The F Word alongside the faster players, and not in the front three as they did. It was a crazy spectacle!
Messi would never be so badly managed at AFC. Again, I’d like to give further props to the relatively enlightened philosophy of the Arsenal physios, and their successful record with players like Rosicky and Ramsey.
For me Ozil is the better player, simply because his serious speed (see Southampton away, goals against Norwich, Everton etc…) allows him the versatility in his game to fit into an eleven as required, he can play in more then two positions on the pitch!
He was so good in that role for Germany. Not forgetting that he is younger and will be around with the new core for longer. And then there is all the off-field behaviour *coughs, strike!* from the F Word which made him the lesser player when compared to the grace with which Ozil handled the barbs from Madrid’s PR team as he left his old club: one acted like a twat, the other like a gentleman.
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It’s fair to say that Ozil just won the world cup playing more or less the same kind of role that Fabregas was incapable of playing this past season and a half at Barcelona.
And that Barcelona still need some of those new CBs! Haha!
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better player in what?
does cesc not have versatility in his roles/positions?
cesc can do what ozil does….can ozil do what cesc does ?
meaning…cesc can play behind strikers or even wide areas and put through ball after through ball for hsi strikers a/o runners all day long…short, long, weight of pass, accuracy, intelligence of passing, splitting defences etc….
but can ozil do what cesc did for us in terms of organising THE WHOLE TEAM’S play, dictating tempo and initiating attacks from his own half ? having to consider 9 other player and their positions on the pitch?
i understand the ill feelings for cesc but his story is one of tragedy and awful timing rather than betrayal. ozil is amazing too but if we have to compare ….sorry but cesc has given a lot more to arsenal and in very difficult times and for most of it he was ALONE. ozil could land historic success to arsenal, no doubt but as far as im concerned the child of the wedding arsenal + wenger is cesc. noone else. and it hurts ..i admit…i hurts a lot.
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Calm down hunter. I don’t think you read my comment properly, that must be it. I hope.
It’s also a tale of a player who was asked to play wide in a front three. Repetively. When he could not. Which left the Barcelona fans tearing their hair put.
Ozil has no problems with that variation, because he is a different player. One that I prefer. And many others too.
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in terms of on the ball talent, technique, creating chances for others etc i cosnider them equal but i give the edge ot cesc for his range of passing and organisational brain.
in terms of physicality ozil might be slightly faster and more agile but cesc is stronger and more committed to helping in defence. ozil will do it in order to not get told off.
in terms of mentality cesc has been asked to lead and performed admirably at a very young age with tons of pressure and expectations on his shoulders. in madrid and germany these responsibilties are shared more evenly between the plethora of world class players in their rosters.
in terms of vision i will refer to my earlier comment about one having to pay attention to 9 others while ozil realistically only has to pay attention to the front two-three-four players who attack with him.
cesc woudl do the work/jobs/roles which are currently conducted by three or even four arsenal players…he woul do the work/role of arteta, the work/role of ramsey, the work/role of santi and the work/role of ozil.
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calm down? lol..why the prejudice mate.? .just talking…you dont have to get defensive
george thought same when i tried to tlak to lsg the other day….do you all think i approach the keyboard with a knife between my teeth ? ..relax … ..
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If you are attemoting to suggest that Ozil can’t help co-ordinate a teams play, I would suggest that you back and watch the German games from the 2014 and the 2010 WC.
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“It’s also a tale of a player who was asked to play wide in a front three. Repetively. When he could not. Which left the Barcelona fans tearing their hair put.
Ozil has no problems with that variation, because he is a different player. One that I prefer. And many others too.”
there is a difference here……germany’s 4231, barca is 433…the 433 of barca requires fast pacey wingers ( pedro sanchez etc). they are fools for wanting to insist on the same 433 with a cesc on the sides. its not like ozil’s role on the side of germany’s 4231 formation requires him to penetrate from wide areas ala robben….( as barca woudl do with their pedros, sanchez, villa etc)
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Not to mention, say, Everton in the FA Cup…
etc.
etc.
etc.
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Hunter,
Like I said above, it’s clear that you did not read or understand my comment above on how the F Word was mis-used.
Therefore I humbly make the helpful suggestion: Put a sockl in it!
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finsbury
July 17, 2014 at 3:38 pm
i was quite specific….. even mentioned how one has to organise the whole team’s play from back to front while ozil is primarily assigned to open up spaces and pop unexpectedly to play the pass from midifield onwards and mostly final third. …this is not “organising”. ozil is a weapon if you like…cesc is the software though
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–
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how the F Word was mis-used.
so if he was mis-used ….how come you declare ozil as better in that role? or any other role?….makes no sense….hence i said “but if we have to compare..”
and not only role, but also the words ‘better player’….
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sorry but i dont understand your behaviour ……
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ah ok fins…fuck you too. and your buggage.
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Ozil 2014> Fabregas 2014 . Is he better than Fabregas 2010 ?
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Thats debatable.. But I believe he is.Marginally.
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very few footballers are better than the cesc of 08,09,10…the kid was carrying us on his fucking own scoring 15 and assisting 20…..best midfeidler in epl by far and in top3-5 all over europe/world, having to take into account 9 other players, and deal with pressure and expectations that would make others cry.
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Yeah, having TR7, Arshavin ,Rvp,Sagna Ect around him must have been a fucking nightmare for the lad.
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lol using a game against southampton and everton for the f.a cup when cesc has taken his balls out and shown them to buffon, vieira, the whole of milan , madrid, penalty with broken foot against barca, helped us progress in quarters and semis in the champions league and helped us stay close in title chases we should never be involved and fins is telling us about everton and southampton….. and then tells us to put a sock in it? … but i guess if i say he is talking bollocks, it will be my fault again….
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In 09 and 11 he scored 3 league goals
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