Ramsey was the player of the season until he got injured.

The thing is, along with Mertesacker, Ramsey and Walcott were key players in this current Arsenal set-up.

The reality is, Ramsey being ruled out longterm at an absolutely crucial stage f the season and then adding Walcott (ruled out for the season) was an absolute hammerblow

I wouldn't dare post that on another teams board as the inevitable 'excuses, excuses' jibes would follow-suite.

But that situation was/is comparable to (for example)

Man City losing Silva & Toure, Chelsea Hazard & Ramires, Liverpool Gerrard & Suarez etc...

Granted City & Chelsea have bigger squads with more strength and depth. But look at City recently, take an important cog or two out of their wheel and they've struggled.

What a player he is, should he still win the pfa young player? For me it's between him and sterling

not hazard?

Young player should be U21, so Sterling should get it, and will. However I think Ramsey up until his injury was on course for both young and overall.

Iagree, 'young player of the year' should be 21 years and under. Strange that players older than that are up for nomination.

Forgot about hazard, has tailed off a bit in last 3 months tbh

And hilst I'm chuffing my nuts off on a frenzied stat-tip, Arsenal with Özil have a 61% win rate, without him, the win rate is 53%. Yowser, yowser!

^^^ wasnt our starting 11 vs West Ham the oldest we have had since 2004

^^^ wasnt our starting 11 vs West Ham the oldest we have had since 2004

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About that time, although I read it was 2003, but yeah, oldest in over a decade!

comment by Moistthighs (U3249)
posted 13 minutes ago
And hilst I'm chuffing my nuts off on a frenzied stat-tip, Arsenal with Özil have a 61% win rate, without him, the win rate is 53%. Yowser, yowser!
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Remember that weird stat in Arteta's first season, where our win rate without him was 0% - and our win rate WITH him was 76%?

Yeah that was weird, the only game we won without Arteta then was the last game vs WBA, which we needed to win. Arteta was good then, Everton sold him at the right time to be honest.

Look at how poor City looked yesterday without just 2 players (Yaya/Silva) If Ramsey didn't get injured along with Walcott I guarantee we would have at least 6 points extra minimum.

Remember that weird stat in Arteta's first season, where our win rate without him was 0% - and our win rate WITH him was 76%?

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Yeah that was weird, the only game we won without Arteta then was the last game vs WBA, which we needed to win. Arteta was good then, Everton sold him at the right time to be honest.

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To be honest (imo) Arteta's first season at Arsenal he was easily one of the most consistent players at the club.

The club was very much in a state of transition and at that time there was a very real need for experience. Arteta had that and he was Prem savy.

Fairplay to the guy, he's very much a model professional. I'd be inclined to keep him as a squad-player, I think he'll prove very useful in that sense... But his game isn't suited to anchoring a midfield, plain & simple, not in the Premier League anyway.

Wenger adopted the approach of a La Liga team in terms of his midfield set-up. Sometimes it works, but the Premier league is unique in its pace and very physically demanding nature. Hence using a player like Arteta as a pivotal player, with little cover, was always going to have mixed results.

I'm a broken record on this one, but that midfield is crying out for a Lars Bender type player to slot into that hole between the defence and midfield.

Moist

I am pretty sure Wenger said he bought Arteta for that 'technical security' in midfield. Also think he was bought for short term so Ramsey and Wilshere get to speed. The former has done so, and as you say, Lars Bender alongside, Arteta could be restricted to a squad role in PL, which I think is good.

I see so many Gooners wanting a Ramsey/Wilshere pairing at the heart of the midfield (longterm).

Not for me, thanks.

Sadly, Wilshere is ALWAYS going to miss games, he's physically fragile. I'm not suggesting he's not worthy of a place in the Arsenal team and if he can keep himself as fit as possible, I actually think he'll get even better.

But for me a midfield of;

Ramsey Ozil

Bender (?)

Is one of balance and a trio where ALL 3 of those players compliment each other.

How is ‘directly involved’ defined? I wouldn’t be surprised if it is score, assist, one pass prior to assist, win a penalty, win a corner etc. Without that definition it doesn’t mean much, if it is all of the above for a creative central midfield player it doesn’t seem that outrageous.

Overrated

comment by Bluedroog - No. 1 Was Robert Fleck (U17596)
posted 9 minutes ago
How is ‘directly involved’ defined? I wouldn’t be surprised if it is score, assist, one pass prior to assist, win a penalty, win a corner etc. Without that definition it doesn’t mean much, if it is all of the above for a creative central midfield player it doesn’t seem that outrageous.
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Scored or assisted in this case I would assume. Still don't find that impressive?

Great thing about Ramsey is he will always get the Summer off because Wales never qualify for tournaments :D

TheSkins - Yes I would be if that were the case, but the term 'directly involved' is too vague to judge a stat on without being defined. I'd imagine if it were score or assist they just say that. I’m not trying to take anything away from Ramsey, he was very impressive early season but when dealing with stats more than most things the variables need to be clear.

Just hope he stays fit for what's left of the season.