Aaron Ramsey - Our Welsh Wonder

Article by e-Arsenal Correspondent Timothy Nolan

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Call me a dweller on the subject, but I feel today would be a great day to talk about one of my personal heroes and an amazing footballer; Aaron Ramsey.

Piping United to the Welshman at the start of the 08/09 season, Arsenal looked like they had gotten quite the prospect. The young man was tipped to be a future star, and showed glimmers of his skill at the ripe age of 18/19. I won’t pretend to be a day-one fan of Ramsey’s, but that’s natural. He was one of Wenger’s all-too-well-known younger signings, and it seemed he was certainly a few years off first team football, if he ever made it at AFC at all.

My good friend, Arman, had been telling me since day one: “Tim, Wilshere and Ramsey will make the new Xaviesta. They’ll run rampant on sides, absolutely bossing the midfield!”

“Yeah right,” I thought. “Ramsey’s good, but he’s no Jack.” This sentiment was mirrored by nearly every Gooner out there, that wasn’t from Wales, of course. The Rambo-Jack comparisons were bound to come though. Both became fringe first-teamers the same season, and both had to compete for a similar spot. I tried to avoid them, though, I liked them both.

Some decent progress was being made in Rambo’s second season. I was so excited to see his potential upside. Then Stoke away rolled around, and I don’t really want to go too into the event itself. To say every single Arsenal fan on the planet was absolutely gutted is an understatement.

We’ll leave it at this;The injury was a shocking, demoralising blow, and many wondered if the kid would ever play football again. Sure enough, Aaron used that and bounced back with a huge message to prove.

He worked and worked. He went off on two loan spells, with decent results considering the circumstances. Getting game-time again was back in the picture. I remember getting emotional when he made two substitute appearances April of 2011 against Blackpool and Bolton, and featuring in the starting XI in a 1-0 win against United. What a great comeback match, in my opinion. He finished the 10/11 campaign with a lot to look forward to.

The 11/12 season was next. I loved the away kits that year. I got my first real kit that year with who on the back? My inspiration, Aaron, of course! When that goal went in at the last minute at Marseille, I went berserk. But for all the great memories, that’s when all of the questions started to come in. Was he going to make it at Arsenal? Many said no. He looked like a man coming back from injury, to be honest. Wenger kept him in the XI, though, and he started to prove his point. He became an “Aaron-of-all-trades,” if you will: “Sure, I’ll play on the wing coach,” and “yeah, I’ll play the DM role, boss,” etc. A testament to his work ethic, he showed the desire to play, and probably wouldn’t have complained if Wenger were to put him in goal.

Roll around one more year: 12/13. If you really watched Arsenal, you’d know that THIS was Rambo’s breakout year, and not this current season. To be specific, the second half was really special for him. He continued to play everywhere, and Wenger stuck with him when he had a bad performance or two. The “When are we getting rid of Ramsey?” Questions were quickly turning to “Always rated Rambo!” declarations. Whether he was holding it down at the back, racing up one of the wings, or charging through the midfield, all of Aaron’s hard work really started to show off that season.

Now, in the current season, four years after the horrific injury, Aaron is the man at Arsenal. Even with Mesut Özil on the team sheet, Aaron was the top dog through the first half of the season until his injury. Goal after goal, electrifying performances every time he stepped back out on the pitch. What a player, what a guy.

His work ethic is second to none. Seldom do you see an athlete on such a high level recover to full strength after an injury such as the one he suffered, let alone become even better. It’s as if he just took a little break from football to pursue something else, and didn’t need to put any effort in at all. But in reality I know just how much work he put in. Countless hours correcting his stride, regaining his pace, refining his football brain.

His blistering form at the end of this season was a by-product of all that hard work in years past. Whether Wenger threw him on the wing, the DM, or the AM slot, he did his job. Every time he made a mistake, he learned from it. He’s become ruthless, and has a powerful footballing brain to boot.

Along with Arsenal’s poster boy, Jack, Aaron We get the joy of watching “Rambo-Jack” play in the very same XI, and are truly starting to form that “Xaviesta” combo my friend promised years ago, and insisted upon when all hopes in Aaron were lost. To be honest, I’d personally put Aaron’s name on the team sheet before Jack’s if we were going off the past two seasons alone.

Aaron may not have the talent out of all of the footballers at the club, but there’s one thing I’m certain: he works harder than every other player off the pitch to acquire those skills, and master them. His growth has been outstanding. If you’re reading this, Aaron, know that you’re an absolute legend to every single supporter, and we’ve all got your back.

Four years and a day later, Aaron’s boys will be out on the pitch where that infamous leg break occurred. Unfortunately he won’t be able to hush the crowd this time, but seeing it at the Emirates was pretty great, if you ask me.

What a man, ladies and gentlemen. Aaron Ramsey. He’ll be back to help us fight for that coveted Premier League Trophy come April and May. I’m proud to call him my favourite footballer today. Up the Arsenal, and always know that Rambo is the coolest dude at the Emirates.

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