A guest post by Kelly Woods @kmwoods02
Aaron Ramsey had his worst game in 12 months against Everton. He tried too hard. He forced things. Yes, he scored a goal, but don’t miss the fact that his performance was poor. And speaking of goals, I’m worried that he’s publicly admitted that he set himself a target of 20 goals this season. Whoa, there, son. Remember, it’s not about you. I know you want to start taking games by the scruff of the neck, but remember to just play your game.
These are all things that have come across my Twitter timeline since Saturday’s game. And I follow positive, considered people, who really do support our players. I know they do. And I respect and value all of them and their opinions – at least I do since I cleaned up who I follow. I cannot imagine what the rest of Twitter is saying, and I really don’t want to try. But if you will, let me articulate how I disagree with almost everything in that first paragraph. And to ask that we consider what it is that we really want from players.
First let me get this out of the way – Aaron was not at his effervescent best against Everton. I support, but I’m not blind. The whole team was out of sorts, and most of what he tried didn’t come off. Also true of other players as well. But let me point out a few things, courtesy of the stats-tastic 7amKickoff and his By the Numbers column for Arseblog:
Out of 69 passes attempted (the most for the team), 12 were misplaced. All but 2 of those misplaced were attacking passes, trying to create a chance. 5 of them were in prime areas, where goal conversion rates are high. One of the aforementioned 2 was just horrible – it went straight to an Everton player and almost gave me a heart attack. Only 4 tackles attempted, 2 of which were successful, and no dribbles. And no chances created. Also, there was that goal.
Ok, so what do stats show? Not the whole story, I’m well aware of that. Aaron’s defensive game was a bit weak and his attacking game was ineffectual on the whole. I think that had a lot to do with not having Arteta next to him, and trying to compete with Jack and Alex for space in the middle. But the question remains – what was he supposed to be doing in this game, and did he do it?
I think we should all come to grips with this fact: Aaron is a flair player. He will always try the Hollywood pass. Some seem to think that he’s changed somehow, that he doesn’t do that anymore. And they see yesterday’s performance as a reversion to a previous flawed way of playing. Nonsense. He has always been this player. By all accounts it’s been so since he was 8 years old. Stories of him demanding the ball from older teammates abound. “Let me do it” has always been his way. His off-pitch personality belies this fact, perhaps, as some don’t expect shy, quiet, introverts to behave this way. But it’s been said of him forever that he “expresses himself on the pitch”.
But, Kelly, I hear you say. Arsene said he told him to simplify his game. To go back to basics. True. But Aaron said this in an interview when asked about that:
“It was a difficult period for me where things weren’t happening the way I would like them to, and he called me in and just told me to simplify my game and get my confidence back that way…I did that for a few games, and then obviously you get more confident as every game goes on, and, yeah, I’m thankful for that.” (emphasis added)
That says to me that simplifying his game was not intended to be a permanent change. At least he didn’t interpret it that way. And Arsene had this to say Saturday:
“He has the engine and he gambles on getting in the box a lot and he has that timing to get where you need to be. He got rewarded like these kind of players do.”
“Gambles.” He gambles. He takes risks. He gets rewarded. He has a “can’t win if you don’t enter” mentality. He has said that he wants to improve his ability to take big games by the scruff of the neck and change them. He has goal targets that he has set for himself. But somehow, all that is now being seen as a potential liability, some sort of indication that he is putting himself above the team. Don’t we want a player that is ambitious? That tries to change games? That wants to score? What do we want, if not that? One of the biggest complaints I hear in games like yesterday is “Somebody DO something! Move, or something!” Yet Aaron tries to do just that, and he has a “poor” game, because it doesn’t come off.
I know I am really preaching to the choir here. This is a supporting group of people, many of whom told me yesterday not to worry, that he just had an off day. But here’s the thing. I’m not worried about him. I’m worried about us. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen. His miraculous exploits last season were a joy to watch. But they won’t continue – at least not like that. He is a marked man now. Teams have found out he is good, he will be given much less room to operate. And he is, by his own admission, still trying to improve his game. I’m confident he will continue scoring us goals. But all this means mistakes will happen. Do we really want to start down the road about how badly he’s played, how he’s struggling for form? Why do we do this? “Uh oh, the old Ramsey is rearing his head. Hope this doesn’t mean last season was a fluke.” It’s like we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the bad thing to happen to us. Optimism reigns, until it doesn’t.
Here’s my fear. Suppose it doesn’t change? Suppose the next game is the same as Everton – he does a few things brilliantly, but at the same time lots of things don’t come off? What will we say then? Because the haters and naysayers will start in – they’ve already started I would imagine. Despair that we thought we had a “world-class” player, but of course we can’t have nice things, so look, he’s being shit again. I’m steeling myself for that, and I’m ready to defend him. I hope you are, too.
Positively Arsenal 
Lovely stuff.
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A farkin Pox on twitter and the bum rashes that pass for Arsenal fans who spout inane twaddle and spew bile like they are auditioning for the starring role in the Excorcist…
Of course, there are a few exceptions… But I’ll be blown if I can’t think of any at this moment in time…
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He doesn’t need defending. He’s been through a long bad patch before, and he came through it a better player. He’s young and level-headed, and plays the game with a maturity which belies his years. Lat’s face it, the team as a whole under-performed in the last three games. This happens to the best teams (often repeatedly) throughout the course of a season. A small incident can provide the spark which re-ignites the team’s confidence. I’m hoping that will happen early on Wednesday night, but even if it doesn’t, it’s only a matter of time. Ramsey is a world-class player. Opposing coaches are now regularly saying so. And he will improve further.
True, Ramsey is a marked man now, but that merely serves to deflect opponents’ attention away from the other players, giving them more freedom. It’s a team game, and make no mistake, Ramsey is contributing in so many ways.
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Brilliant Kelly
I’m not concerned because Aaron has Arséne as his manager and let’s face it no one knows how to manage players as well as he…..
It would seem I don’t follow enough dipsticks on twitter as I am not exposed to their peurile rants. I only get a sense of what they might be tweeting from PG’s retorts….
Are we still on to meet in Edinburgh in two weeks or so?
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We’re talking about a football match here and, as you say yourself, the supportive kind of supporter.
If I deem a player’s performance to be below his usual level, for whatever reason, as a football fan, I want to talk about it. That is the nature of the beast.
There are some who will always look to criticise and others who simply enjoy discussing the good and bad in each game. I don’t see the latter as a problem, nor do I feel that anyone, particularly our best player, needs protecting from fans shooting the breeze over each performance.
While I admire the loyalty and zeal with which this piece was written, I fundamentally reject its premise.
Very well written. Thanks, Kelly.
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Fucking fundamentalists everywhere !
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in defence of who? aaron ramsey? who is he? overhyped. classless and lazy. i want my hendersons and fletchers to play the iniesta role…players who can handle augusts that look like februarys up north …….wenger clearly cant cope with modern football…..
‘ja ..das ist den falsche neun…..heh….naturlich…alles klar? ‘
.
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I get your point, B7. I don’t have a problem with anything you’ve said. I thought we had a nice discussion yesterday. I was just looking for more than 140 characters to make my point. I hope that’s ok with you, too.
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“Aaron is a flair player”
Even his tackles have that Rosicky-esque flair e.g. build up to the winning goal in the cup final.
Ramsey is an athlete. They have ups and downs in form. In confidence too. Sometimes it is fair to question a players form, as happened recently with the England Cricket Captain. But that critique was not based upon form over a few games, nor just the one game but over a much longer period. A period when the player was not suffering from injuries or in rehab. We all questioned Tommy V’s form (following injuries) because he obviously wasn’t the same player for a while, but last season when called upon he played well. However he’d lost his place so the poor lamb now finds himself in Bunga Bunga land. Some think he has inherent flaws in his game, maybe. After having written about these ‘flaws’ before most in a successful attempt to expose the Groaners disingenuous groans about the Arsenal D-Fence (samba!) I’m not convinced with that thought because he’s still better then the likes of the serial short pulling Vertonghan. He’ll be fine.
We all knew that the media and their hangers on would have the knives out for Alexis after that fourty five minutes, even though as I wrote on Friday the upcoming CL decider would force changes on the eleven, not all of them ideal – too early for Alexis to play up top, but needs must. Harder for the players to re-adapt their gameplan with an unfamiliar colleague, unlike the 3rd round of the cup in January when they flipped from having OG to Theo without too much strife – Yes. I do bear in mind the Dawson handicap that the Tinies had for that game. I also remember that talkshite were talking up Dawson for England at the same time!
The real problem for me is not in any one player’s form at any given time. It’s the WOB hatred for the Arsenal way, for the Arsenal manager that manifests itself in such stupidity. So many examples, the meme attacking Pat Rice, Walcott’s football brain, Özil signing as alast minute fluke etc.
The most recent manifestation of this is the denigration of Wilshere made specifically in opposition to Ramsey, as I described on Friday. Because having two young and gifted British midfielders at the club is crime for these people? To be fair to Gary Linekar he’s the only mainstream plundit over the last seven days who has referred to St.Jack’s injury trials. Which begs the question.
As bradyesque says above, this doesn’t mean we can’t wonder about if and where Wilshere is playing, which is exactly what I did here in Saturday’s match preview (hope you read it Ronan!). But I don’t think that this is the kind of thing that Kelly is referring to:
I don’t think the WOBs can stop themselves. It’s a full blown virus. They are consumed.
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“He made some mistakes by being overambitious”, “He was poor” and “He was shite” may be three different ways of expressing the same opinion. But the first is reasoned, the second is unhelpful and the third is intolerable.
Not sure that this leads to a fundamental disagreement.
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“He made some mistakes by being overambitious”, “He was poor” and “He was shite” may be three different ways of expressing the same opinion. But the first is reasoned, the second is unhelpful and the third is intolerable.”
I wasted 1100 words, and Merlot said it in less than 100, and didn’t piss anyone off. That’s it exactly.
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I’m having a fight with Le Grove on twitter. Its carnage, But he has said some lovely things about me.
“Just been told by @LeGrove that i’m “exactly like Wenger” Peter is now my best friend in the world. I love him, what a lovely thing to say.”
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PG,
You have arrived my friend. I consider being likened to Arsene Wenger as one the best compliments anyone can give me.
You lucky bastard!
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Aaron shouldn’t need defending but it’s interesting how quick the knifes have been out for him after his start to the season. Even though his play hasn’t been as refined as we got used to during last season, he has still delivered the goods, but that’s simply not good enough for some. I wonder if those criticising him at this point in time are part of the same herd that was abusing him just two seasons ago. They must feel like all their perennial moaning about one of our best players was justified because Aaron didn’t turn water into wine but merely scored two hugely important goals in the league helping us gain vital points. Unfortunately, their moment basking in the sun shining from their own backsides won’t last too long, since Aaron is going to turn it up rather sooner than later. That he’s missing the Besiktas game due to suspension should put the fear of god into those Leicester players because he will be ready and roaring to go.
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@ PG – Being compared to AW is phenomenally high praise indeed ( though wildly inaccurate)!
And this my good man is of course much better than being compared to Le Grove peeps, which would be like being compared to an armpit stain = embarrassing and rather unseemly!
Or a pile of dog mess = large stink and should be firmly placed at the bottom of a bin.
Or a cheap bit of polyester = poor quality and liable to cause a rash.
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I doubt that those who supported him through his trying times would get on his back now. he currently is our single most important player, not to say others are not important but, you get my point.
I think when the whole team clicks into beautiful artistry, marking Ramsey (or any single player in the team for that matter) will be a big flaw by any opponent. this team really is a team, on & off the pitch.
Great post K
ps: every arsenal player is world class
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I love this article as, I am a massive Aaron Ramsey fan. He shouldn’t need defending, but well written vocal support for the player, is a good thing.
How long before the knives are out for Sanchez?
Arsenal Fans seems to be at the other end of extreme from Liverpool fans, who give their players absolute blind support. Ours seem closer to West Ham’s vicious supporter fanbase, which is very, very sad.
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George
The fact that that twat from that blog has compared you with the manager of the team he supposedly supports, but using it as a slur (sorry old bean!), says all you need to know about the fucker.
He has never been a real supporter of Arsenal, just his own ends.
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Thanks for the feedback, guys. I appreciate the opportunity to write for this group of folks.
Hey, G-P, my travel plans to Edinburgh are frustratingly slow to finalize. And it’s driving me nuts because I normally plan things eons in advance, but this one is out of my hands. But I’m still on target to be in Edinburgh sometime on the 7th. I’ll message you on Twitter as soon as I know details.
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Fuck ! It was a slur?
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George – love you to bits, but even from a bloke who clearly knows nothing whatsoever about sport, that is a bit far-fetched.
Thanks Kelly: lovely sentiments. Your man will be just fine, especially when he gets over the just married stage.
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PG
Could you send My email address to Kelly please?
Thanks
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Nice work, Kelly. Not much I can disagree with here. Like we discussed on Twitter, I think these are early days of a Wenger experiment with 3 British midfielders. Obviously, it didn’t work in the first half of the Everton game. They need to play a lot more together to develop an understanding that Santi has with Poldi or Poldi with OG or Ozil with Ramsey. In the end, I am sure it will all come good. Arsene will make sure that happens. But, anyone who judge’s any player’s performance based on one game is an impatient fool and doesn’t deserve our attention. Remember the meltdown after the Villa game last year?
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Super piece Mrs Wood – passionate, positive and sincere.
I know exactly where it comes from and I’m in full agreement; like you I’ve seen over and again players (including the Aaron of old) turned into the fans’ whipping boy for the team’s percieved shortcomings and the murmers all starts off in a fairly restrained fashion before gaining momentum as the pack mentality eventually takes a hold of the unfortunate player by the metaphorical throat.
Some survive, some fold.
That Arsenal fans have an established track record of shooting themselves in the foot on this score alone justifies Kelly’s well worked piece and I’m so pleased you shared your insights with us.
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Georgaki. DM it to me as I have a couple of yours but cant think where.
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Georgakos: You can still meet up with her only if you can get her to Innis & Gunn Brewery to buy me a nice souvenir!
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Hi Mike
I’m a teetotaller…..or as near as damn it…
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PG
I’ve sent an email to two accounts I have for you…
2:0 to the oilers….
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PG
Ok I get what DM is now
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Probably what Loserpool need right now Georgaki.
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Well that was interesting and not totally unexpected.
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hmm… so what do Liverpool need since any game where points are dropped regardless of the opposition means some player has not yet been bought… who did Liverpool not buy? from striker to midfielder to defender….
Although last season mind you when we were leading the league for ling spells everyone and his dog and even cat were sensible enough to point pout we had tougher games ahead.. now suddenly Swansea are going to win the league cos they were first to be top or else Chelsea cos they beat Burnley…
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Any concrete news on Giroud?
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Early doors yet for Liverpool and I don’t think anything definitive can be drawn from that loss. Personally I will be waiting to find out who they draw in the CL before stating that they are going to really struggle this season with the extra games. All that talk about them doing the best business in the transfer window has me interested.
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Didn’t some say similar about Spuds last season, that they’d had the best TW?
Turned out well.
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Giroud out for 3 months. Dear God, when will it ever end?
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Good article, Kelly. I can live with Ramsey having a terrible 89 minutes (he didn’t) because he has the capacity to pop up and score the winner in the 90th. He never hides; he is always showing for the ball. This team needs leadership, and he stands up week after week. He’s more a lead-by-example type, but what an example he sets.
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PG,
It is not confirmed. Just conjecture from Telegraph to prelude a ramble on who Arsenal must buy.
“Arsenal fear Olivier Giroud could be ruled out for as long as three months IF a second scan confirms that he has a broken ankle.”
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Crap! I haven’t seen that, George.
Georgakos, that’s ok. Just point her in the right direction! 😉 That’s my favorite brewery in the whole wide world.
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Apologies for the smiley. I forgot! Forgive me?
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You’re barred.
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Next time.
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Or the time after.
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I swear I’ll never do it again! I’m new here and Kelly can vouch for me. Right Kelly? Ummm… Kelly? A little help here!
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You cross George and you’re on your own, hon.
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History.
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poldi stays then? i do not understand the need to sell him except it is him pushing for it? hope his agent is not the German darren dein
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Given that top class like for like replacements for Giroud (and let’s remember all is speculation at the moment) are not obviously available, I would be interested to see what people think Arsene might do over the coming months if no new faces come in. Campbell? Sanogo? Akpom? Alexis?
I’ve always felt that the Ox could play a more forward role, as indeed could Ramsey, but then I’ve always enjoyed the imaginative challenge of make do and mend, and my favourite word is serendipity.
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AKPOM
(IBSF)
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If the coaches get bored they could activate the clause on ANEKE
He can play at CB, CM even CF. Maybe. I don’t know.
I might have made up the bit about playing CF & CB but I thought I’d join in the spirit of the traditional AAA end of transfer window Wonga (debt peonage) envy induced meltdown into delirium that the AAA are now famous for (please refer to 12/13, 13/14 etc.)
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