Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 19 January 2012 13:28

Good afternoon,

It is somewhat of a miserable day weather wise at the time of writing this. The cold, rain and darkness of the afternoon just adds to the lingering depression of Swansea last weekend.

The team are now preparing for a visit of Manchester United, a massive game and a chance to get us back on the straight and narrow and try and make up for our recent drop of crucial points. As you know, Thomas Vermaelen should be fit to play which is great but Mikel Arteta is still struggling for fitness and that is a bit of a concern but we can go into that at a later date.

I actually want to talk about Arteta's midfield partner in crime, Aaron Ramsey.

Since joining Arsenal over Manchester United back in 2008, Aaron Ramsey has had somewhat of an eventful time at the club. A bright youngster who was developing quickly, had a great attitude and then suffered from the Shawcross assault, had his place in the team taken by his Carling Cup team mate who had made a similar impact and then got his place back again due to an unfortunate injury to Ramsey's replacement, Jack Wilshere.

Aaron Ramsey has had plenty to deal with both physically and mentally and when he came back into the side at the end of last season you could see that he was still some way off his best form. Interestingly enough, his best display came against our next opponents in the same stadium. That game in May, Ramsey scored the winner and his last goal at the Emirates stadium so I hope that is a good omen for Sunday.

Ramsey has been inconsistent in his end product so far this season. At the start of the season I thought that Tomas Rosicky was in better form and gave the team more in terms of possession and end product, Ramsey was still finding his feet and was allowed the time to sharpen up and adjust to his new team mate who had arrived from Everton at the end of the transfer window.

Suddenly it all clicked for Ramsey and he was arguably the best player on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, where Arsenal produced our most satisfying victory of the season to date. He had a spring in his step, a confidence that was starting to shine through and his final ball was starting to come off.

Think of his first time clipped pass into Theo Walcott who then ripped Ashley Cole apart before Gervinho almost impossibly steered wide at the far post. It was Ramsey who carved Chelsea apart for our equaliser, threading through the eye of a needle to Gervinho who quickly made amends for his early miss by unselfishly squaring for van Persie.

It didn't stop there for the Welshman, against West Brom at home his Cesc-esque pass behind the defence found the motoring Walcott on the right and van Persie eventually put us ahead on the day.

Aaron Ramsey's engine has always been amazing, surely it has to be one of the best in the league without looking at the stats. His final pass has also been of top quality from what we had seen before his horrific injury, it was consistency that was his problem in the past but he was finally starting to get that.

In recent months, our squad has whittled down due to injuries and our crispness of pass has deserted us as well as the almost weekly rotation of our defence, especially the lack of natural full backs has made the team suffer and with that Aaron Ramsey's form has dipped back to the inconsistencies of the early season.

Arsene Wenger has reminded us that this is pretty much his first real season as a regular and that his injury has affected his progress which is very true. He has lacked goals, especially for someone who often pushes up close to van Persie but what we tend to forget is his tender age of 20. Cesc Fabregas, the man who Ramsey has pretty much replaced positionally had the same issues when developing at Arsenal. He lacked composure and missed chances. As the saying goes, you have to start worrying when there are no chances to miss.

Ramsey's ability to be in the right place at the right time has been remarkable. He has been thwarted by blocks, goalkeeping saves or by over eagerness. You get the feeling that once he gets a few in a short space of time then his confidence will grow and his input in the goals department will be quite considerable in the years to come.

So why has Arsene played Ramsey so often when we have someone like Tomas Rosicky sitting on the bench? It is a question I have muttered more than once, mainly because I still rate the Czech very highly and after thinking about it a little, I have come up with this conclusion.

Young players need to improve and develop. For that to happen, young players need the momentum of playing games. I look back at former youngsters since Arsene has been in charge at this great club and the obvious one is Cesc Fabregas. Patrick Vieira had left the club and so many cried out for an experienced player to come in yet Arsene stuck with his 17 year old and we all know how he turned out. Cesc Fabregas left Barcelona to get his chance and play football, to work on his weaknesses and improve his strengths.

Arsene dropped an experienced goal scoring striker in Davor Suker and replaced him with a 22 year old winger. What on earth was Arsene doing? In time we had the best striker in the world in my opinion.

Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Jack Wilshere, Alex Song and Robin van Persie are a few other examples of young players who were given a chance to develop on the job and then blossomed into International quality players. Not all of those players were seen as the answer at the time.

What has surprised me the most about Aaron Ramsey is his character. When we signed him, I didn't know that he had the guts and mentality that he has. You can see it when he snarls at senior figures such as Robin van Persie when the Dutchman goes for a shot instead of finding Ramsey in a better position. He is not afraid to tell anyone that they should be looking for him. It is that belief and attitude that will take Ramsey a long way.

What will be interesting is what happens to the midfield when Jack Wilshere is match fit and totally free from his injury that has robbed him of the season so far. Mikel Arteta and Alex Song have formed the foundations for the Arsenal attack but both Wilshere and Ramsey are at the age where they need to play to develop. Rotating the two youngsters or leaving one of them out will not get the best out of someone and that isn't Arsene's way. Hopefully we do not have long to wait until we get the answer.

In other news Maurone Chamakh has vowed to stay and fight for his place at Arsenal. While technically he is no Robin van Persie, he has always had his heart in the right place. He clearly has an affection for the club and had so before he joined us. Anyone who has that will always be in my good books. His confidence seems to have suffered from his great start at the club but in all fairness to Chamakh, he has not had a chance to gain his form back in our strongest side. We have expected Chamakh to return to his best and come to life in second string sides in the Carling Cup along with other players who have been lacking games.

Obviously I hope I do not get to see Chamakh have a long spell in the first team because it would mean major bad news to a certain other player but if Chamakh had Walcott and Gervinho either side of him and Santos and Sagna on the overlap then I suspect that he would quickly get out of his funk.

The issue for me is that van Persie and Chamakh cannot play together in the same team and as long as van Persie is fit then Chamakh will not be given the platform to be at his best. There is many calls for a back up striker for van Persie and I see the logic in that but if van Persie continues to be van Persie then wouldn't new striker have the same issues as Chamakh? The dreaded lack of games and then asking him to produce his best with 10 minutes at the end of a game that we desperately need to score a goal and perhaps being farmed out wide. More than a back up striker I feel we need our current players apart from obviously Robin to fix up and look sharp on the training pitch and start finding the net. Ramsey I have already spoken about, Theo Walcott who has that in him, Gervinho, Arshavin, Arteta and so on.

If we need anything then it is either a creative wide forward who can score goals or a direct wide forward who can score goals to supplement van Persie, preferably a player that can also play as a central striker. We don't just need a player in case Robin gets injured.

There are rumours today that Andrey Arshavin will move on in the summer and to be honest, that wouldn't surprise me, nor would it be unexpected. That said, there is no proof that this is the case from today's news. Next year Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ryo, Gervinho and Walcott will all be a year older, a year wiser and hopefully a year better. Andrey Arshavin's age means that he is unlikely to improve as a player so it would make sense if he moved on. If that is the case then wouldn't it be great if he could have three months of brilliance?

Right, time to dash.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (20)

• 19-Jan-2012 16:27 | | rahul Sethi
  

  Amen. Nice article. Agree about Chamakh. Its been frustrating, but he really hasn't had a run of games since RvP came back last January or so. Wouldn't be sad to see Arshavin go.

• 19-Jan-2012 21:20 | | Blazer  - Arsenal's Mid-field
  

  It was nice that you see some positive potential on Ramsey, but as we all know, currently Arsenal is in a dier situation to stay afloat. We need a quality player in the midfield, who could provide passes to the attack and read the game well, unfortunately, Ramsey could not do either. I agree he may one day develop to be a good player, but contrary to Wengers stabern idea, the team could not afford to do that at this crucial moment. Song could play in that position but who will stop the attack, Ramsey does not even bother to help the defence. It will be best for him and the team to send him off on a loan, so he gets some experience. Rosicky on the other hand is a world class player, who should be starting on every game at least for the first 45 minutes. I rather see couqlen play in the mid-field with Song than Arteta, but Wenger lives in his own world watching the team get dismantelled week after week.

• 19-Jan-2012 21:28 | | waterboy
  

  Good article ML! I actually think Wenger has already signed the pacey forward, with a soft touch, who could play on the wings (in particular on the left wing) in Joel Campbell. Somehow, despite being a full regular international, he wasnt granted a work permit. That said having watched some of his performances this season with Lorient i have really been impressed. Also as you pointed out with Chamackh's situation, i think the same issue applies to Park and maybe Afobe (though his off the ball movement is quite direct and he appears to have that killer instinct inside the box so he could possibly play wide right.

• 19-Jan-2012 21:34 | | MeanLean
  

  Great point about young Joel Campbell. It is difficult to know how he will settle into English football but he is a super finisher as seen by his latest goal for Lorient. Perhaps this is why Arsene went for Park as the short term option.
  
  I haven't seen any full matches from him as yet but judging by highlights, he looks like a gifted player. Hopefully he can make enough of an impact in France to force Arsene into consideration when he is able to get a permit.

• 19-Jan-2012 23:27 | | MeanLean
  

  Copy and paste in ya browsers.
  
  A quality video of the young Welshman
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDgAEdG3YM

• 20-Jan-2012 07:32 | | Jony
  

  I actually think that rotating a bit up front would do no harm, and allow the Boss to view the different tactical options that other players offer. Let's say, it would be good to see a starting XI like this:-
  
  Szczesny
  Djourou Mertesacker Koscielny Vermaelen
  Arteta Song Rosicky (or Arshavin)
  Ryo Park C-Y Henry
  
  I know that Walcott can be used as a super sub,given our always method of attacking strongly since the first seconds of a game. When the pace is low,he enters and runs and scores or creates.
  
  I think Rosicky still has a lot of super power to give to our club (he played a very good game against Wolves during December), while it would be good to let sometimes another rotation up front,let's say:-
  
  (the lone striker with the two offensive wingers)
  
  :- Benayoun Henry (or Park C-Y) Arshavin
  
  It is good we have good Asian players like Park C-Y and Ryo, it would be good to let them play often also, because Park C-Y signed for 3 years and we're already in the ending days of January...
  
  As for RvP10, I think we can manage to finish this season with lots of goals, I do hope more in Champions League... As for Chamakh, he loves AFC and has proved that although he doesn't score, he will try and help others to try... I was pleased when I saw him scored the 3rd in the game against Blackburn earlier this season... As for midfielders, I think Arteta is irreplaceable, Song also but I see our midfield like this till the end of the season:-
  
  Arteta Song Wilshere
  
  with TR7, AR16 , AA23, YB30 and RM31 as super subs...
  
  To finish,I'll say I hope Thierry Henry score more and we beat Utd, Aston Villa and AC Milan in the 3 competitions we're in to...

• 20-Jan-2012 10:50 | | Spectrum
  

  For the benefit of Mean Lean, Richie e.t.c. Some interesting facts and figures..........( copy and paste )......
  
  http://footballfriends.mobify.com/blogs/2012/1/17/same-old-arsenal- the-financial-facts-that-prove-the-director.html
  
  "******************"

• 20-Jan-2012 10:57 | | MeanLean
  

  For the benefit of Spectrum, Colesy etc. Some interesting facts and figures :-)
  
  http://angryofislington.com/2012/01/19/arsenals-finances-the-plain- truth
  
  In Arsene we trust

• 20-Jan-2012 11:20 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - Our chairman Peter Hill - Wood made a statement the other day which should have been the featured topic of your blog. Surely you must have noticed it, but oddly, you haven' t deemed it important enough to even mention.
  
  It demonstrates the apathy, complacency and lack of ambition that has pervaded the club for many years. ( quote ) ;
  " We have been planning for not qualifying every year, so it’s not a disaster, but it would nice if we could.” "Nice if we could ! ". What a weak gutless thing of him to say. Why isn' t he demanding the team and manager do better ? Why isn' t he setting performance targets that must be met ? I was going to say more on this, but as usual, the Arsenal Truth blog is ahead of the game, and has summed it up very succinctly ........
  
  ( copy and paste ) ........ http://arsenaltruth.squarespace.com/arsenal-truth/2012/1/18/what- chance-does-arsenal-have-with-the-likes-of-hill-wood-up.html#comments
  
  " ****************** "

• 20-Jan-2012 12:05 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - that article you linked to, confirms that we should be doing things differently, making better use of our resources, and prioritising. Because it's obvious from the perspective of the TEAM, that it's a flawed plan that's patently not working. We are a football club first and foremost, not a commercial bank.
  The article also confirmed that the MANAGER chooses who to buy, and what to pay in transfer fees, ( albeit within the budget he is given ). Something I have maintained all along. Also it underlines that Wenger pays too much in wages to too many underperforming / lazy / injury prone players, many of them young, and who have yet to prove they are worthy of it. Why do we still have the likes of Almunia, Squillaci, Diaby, Djourou, Chamakh, Arshavin and other deadwood at the club ? Why ? Because we can' t offload them. They're either shit, or no other club is prepared to match their inflated wages. And do you believe the club is so skint that we can't afford to bring anyone in, even on LOAN ? We're two thirds through the transfer window, and are STILL dithering. It's disgraceful. How many more points can we afford to lose while Wenger bashes the keys on his calculator, trying to save a few quid ?
  
  " ******************"

• 20-Jan-2012 12:52 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean - "In Arsene WE TRUST." ? I thought you once said you're not an A.K.B. Slip of the tongue, was it ?
  
  " ****************** "

• 20-Jan-2012 15:37 | | Tony  - Know beta than Wenger, spectrum?
  

  @ spectrum:Wow.. Why so bitter mate? Why dont we wait till the end of the season before we commence with the finger pointing, fault finding, and our prediction of how low Wenger is going to drag the club to this time around?
  One thing you should always remember though; no matter ur thoughts, conviction, whatever info you get/read... you will never know/understand a quarter of what Wenger knows about Arsenal Fc and football in general, and if given his job, it wouldn't take you all of 3 months to turn it all into a play-ground circus.
  So please shove it.

• 20-Jan-2012 16:59 | | Eric
  

  I hope this doesnt descend between a pro vs anti Wenger debate...it is a futile exercise and wasteful use of one's brain cell...
  
  I am interested to see where we are in March (performance and squad-wise) before then ...I am afraid my crystall ball needs polishing (however how many stats I can pull out of opta ) and I suspect that may be the same thing for quite a few of us
  
  *Acceptance of the status quo is not acceptance of mediocrity*

• 20-Jan-2012 17:53 | | Rjb  - the knives are out and sharpened this time....
  

  It is amazing how two losses means the entire existence of a football club comes into question. Everybody is talking about transfer and finances blah blah blah.....Oh the ways of modern football.
  
  And I just hope that c*nts like Spectrum have the balls to show up when the team is winning..........where the fuck does he go to 'rust' when we are winning.....must be in Harry's lap I guess....

• 21-Jan-2012 11:52 | | Colesy  - Facts and Figures
  

  ML, thanks for the link and it was an interesting slant on the clubs finances. Whether it's Wenger or the Board who decides on how much money is spent or when it's spent, the clubs decline is linked to three key facts. Firstly the coaching from Wenger & Rice hasn't changed over several seasons. It's built around possession and has led to "tippy tappy" football. It's also responsible for the shambolic defending we have witnessed over the past few seasons. We're too easy to play against leading to clubs in the lower half of the PL being able to get results (Blackburn, Fulham, Wolves and Swansea).
  
  Secondly, the managers decision to go with youth hasn't paid off. The players like Vela, Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby, Senderos, Alumnia, Reyes, Walcott, Merida etc. They have either failed to live up to the "potential" or got fed up with the lack of trophies and moved on like Fabregas or sought more money like Nasri and Clichy.
  
  The third reason is linked to the club's finances. The decision to attempt to tie players to the club by signing them to long term contracts has failed. It rewards them for little or no success. Players get into a comfort zone knowing that they have a long term contract which takes away the fear of failure. Equally wrong imo is the clubs decision to pay the likes of Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Walcott etc the huge wages when they've not achieved anything and means that other clubs who may be interested in signing them cannot because the wages are too high. Both of these money related decisions have meant we are stuck with a bloated squad with players like Almunia, Walcott, Squillaci etc.
  
  We cannot sign decent players because we've no room in our squad. We couldn't attract decent players because we are now seen in the same light as Villa, Newcastle and Liverpool. We are not certain of CL football. We will stuggle more in the coming seasons because of the lack of sponsorship the club will attract. When we come to replace Nike or Emirates, we won't be able to argue that we deserve similar sums of money as other clubs because the lack of success and a deterioration of the brand.
  
  We are in decline and those who think the sun still shines out of Wenger's backside will become fewer in numbers come May. We are 4 points worse off and conceded 9 more goals than at this stage last season. We are 15 points off the leaders and every sign suggests we will finish this season with an even bigger gap between us and the eventual winners of the league.
  
  Its a sad state of affairs and something which gives me no pleasure in highlighting. Blogs are about opinions - yes. I know that many won't like reading the above but whether you love Wenger or not, you cannot hide from the facts.

• 21-Jan-2012 15:33 | | Spectrum
  

  Tony - The familiar North Korea syndrome you mean ? Yes I confess, you're right , who are we to question him ? Just accept everything we see and are told. I take it you'll be out on the streets with all the other Wenger worshippers when the time comes that your Great Leader kicks the bucket ? Or leaves the club, whichever comes first. Either way it will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I'm sure. Perhaps we can ask David Cameron to arrange a national day of mourning ?
  
  " ****************** "

• 21-Jan-2012 20:44 | | bake
  

  arsene knows best

• 22-Jan-2012 06:23 | | Tony  - Best you've got, spectrum?
  

  Yeah spectrum: correct on all counts, i love what Wenger has done for the club, i respect his very superior abilities, and i believe it would be a truly great loss to football when he dies. Anything else you've got to add?

• 23-Jan-2012 10:36 | | Spectrum
  

  Tony - His "his superior abilities" were really on display against Man. Utd, weren' t they ? Maybe he just needs MORE TIME. L.O.L.
  
  " ******************"

• 23-Jan-2012 20:53 | | Blazer  - What goes up must come down
  

  Wenger had his time to shine up above for many years and judging from his recent actions, one could tell he is definitely on his way down. The question is how low and how fast? Soccer is a special type of sport enjoyed by millions and you don't have to be a player to enjoy the game or identify the good and bad in a game. No one argue Wengers ability to train his players, his most visible weakness has to do with making the right formation and substitution. I like his confidence in his players but he need to realize these players are performing in front of their funs and regardless how long one practice, if he could not perform on the pitch, he has no place in the team period. It is like watching a ballet dancer who falls on his/her face during performance, who would want to watch that? Here is my suggestion for starting XI: Schezney, Yanaris (Sagna), Mert, Kychelney, Vermalen, Song, couqlen (Arteta), Resicky (Wilshire), Young (Gervinho), RVP (Wicott), AOX. I believe if Wenger gives enough chance for Resicky, Young, AOX, and Yanaris, we will be in much better position. Acquiring one or two players would have been even better.

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