Where does Aaron Ramsey fit in at Arsenal? (Video)

With the spotlight now firmly on Jack Wilshere, who is making his return from injury after 14 months out, what is next for Arsenal team-mate Aaaron Ramsey?

The former Wales captain had a horrific injury of his own to overcome in 2010 and, whilst he may not have been out of action for quite as long as Wilshere, it has massively hindered his career so far.  However, when his fellow midfielder was ruled out long-term in pre-season last year, it opened the door for Ramsey to have a regular place in the side.  The former Cardiff City youngster would go on to make 44 appearances for the Gunners in the 2011/12 season, scoring three goals and providing eight assists.

That’s not to say Ramsey didn’t earn his position in the team.  Often lining up alongside Alex Song, who moved to Barcelona in the summer, and £10 million signing Mikel Arteta, he had an important role to play in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield.  Ultimately though, the feeling remains that, had Wilshere been fit, Ramsey would have struggled to get into the starting 11.

There have been times when Ramsey has been deployed out wide, but his preferred position remains in the centre of the pitch.  A gap in the side may have appeared when Alex Song departed to La Liga, but Arsene Wenger had already signed a ready-made replacement in the shape of Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla, who has made an impressive start to the season.  The creative midfielder has mainly partnered his compatriot Mikel Arteta, with the duo providing a much-needed flair to Arsenal’s play.

Combining the Spaniards’ good form with Jack Wilshere’s return to fitness, just how is Aaron Ramsey going to get a game?

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Comments

[davi]

People need to understand: Ramsey is an attacking midfielder! His main strengths include his burst of speed/dribbling and finishing. He's a decent passer but not that special in reality. Defensively he's pretty average, certainly no better than Cazorla, and as a result Santi is his main competition for a CM spot, because we can't really have two defensively weak/mediocre centre-midfielders. That means that the only way he's likely to get starts this season, barring an injury to Cazorla (and no return for Rosicky), is when he plays wide on the right. This seems about right because it's where Nasri (a similar player in many ways) ended up playing.