Arsenal Midfield must Step Up
Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday was hugely disappointing not only in the way that Mauricio Pochettino’s men were able to hold out for an unlikely point, but also in the high price that the Gunners paid in terms of the injuries suffered by Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and, most worryingly, Aaron Ramsey. With a series of huge games to come Arsene Wenger’s men can’t afford to let the loss of the their three influential midfielders blow their season off-course and the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Özil and Mathieu Flamini must stand up and be counted if the Gunners are to stay in the hunt for silverware.
The injury to Aaron Ramsey will most concern Arsene Wenger after having seen the impact that his absence had on the team last season. With Arsenal having started the season in superb form, recording five straight wins following their opening day defeat to Aston Villa, they were at the Premier League summit before Christmas and remained there until the midway point of the season- around the time that Ramsey picked up a seemingly minor injury. Ramsey’s thigh injury, sustained on Boxing Day, was initially likely to keep him out for a matter of weeks but he did not return until April, by which time Arsenal had dropped out of title contention and were battling to save Champions League qualification. If the Arsenal medical team are to be believed the midfielder’s latest niggle- a hamstring pull- will keep him out of action for no longer than a month- Wenger and the Arsenal fans will be praying that is the case.
Ramsey contributed 13 goals before his injury last season and, with Olivier Giroud as the only fit, recognised front line striker in the squad, his absence after Christmas left Arsenal desperately short of firepower. Although Ramsey may only have scored two league goals so far this season, the continuing absence of Giroud and Walcott through injury will heap further pressure on the rest of the Arsenal squad to step up and take their share of the responsibility. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal on Saturday gives some hope but he, and the rest of the midfield, will need to offer consistently improved performances if they are to make up for the loss of Ramsey- striker Danny Welbeck must also start to weigh in with his share of the goals.
Whilst Ramsey’s injury comes at a difficult time for Arsenal, it couldn’t come at a much worse time for his international colleagues either. The Wales captain, whose former side Cardiff City are currently languishing in 15th place with their odds in the Championship betting lengthening, will also miss vital international qualifiers against Bosnia-Hercegovina and Cyprus in Cardiff. Whilst his loss will be keenly felt by Arsene Wenger, the Frenchman does, at least, have some strength in depth and proven quality to turn to. Wales boss Chris Coleman, on the other hand, will be despairing at the prospect of his team lining up without the 23 year old, particularly given the possible absence of Liverpool’s Joe Allen from the squad too.
Arsenal meet Galatasaray at the Emirates on Wednesday night knowing that they need a win to keep up their hopes of making it out of the group stages. The absence of Ramsey and his midfield colleagues will certainly be concerning Wenger and the Arsenal fans but if those players that are given their chance in the first team can take it with both hands then it will make the Gunners a much more challenging proposition as the season progresses.
