How Wenger, Arteta and Flamini revived Ramsey's career.

 Ramsey is in Beast Mode, God Mode, Invincible Mode or whatever synonyms you would like to use to showcase his phenomenal form since the start of the season, it would be apt. I have written this article to analyse that how Wenger deployed Ramsey in a role where he can thrive. In this article, we are going to analyse Ramsey’s performance in season 2012-13 and 2013-14. We would also analyse how he has blossomed alongside his two Central Midfield Partners in the team. We have analysed Arteta’s stats from 2012-13 season and Flamini’s 2013-14 stats.

	Matches	G	A	PA(%)	T	I	Fouls	Key Pass	D	Through Balls
Ramsey(12/13)	25(18)	2	2	87	85	54	56	47	49	15/30
Arteta	41(0)	6	4	91.4	129	115	96	28	27	8/20
Ramsey(13/14)	9(0)	8	2	88	43	14	19	12	9	4/13
Flamini	4(1)	-	-	92.1	12	9	6	2	2	-

G: Goals;A:Assists;PA: Passing Accuracy;T:Tackles;I:Interception; D: Dispossesed.

In my earlier post The Ramsey Effect, I have analysed how Ramsey had progressed as player in season 2012-13.Ramsey’s resurrection started since the start of last season, when Wenger started to play him out wide to improve his touch and control over the ball and then gradually moved him to his favorite CM position. Wenger, had even played Ramsey, as right back at times. It might have had helped Ramsey to improve his overall game. As time passed on, Wenger, must have seen him improving in the training, and hence when injury occured to Diaby and Wilshere, Wenger tried to put Ramsey as one of the double pivot in front of defence along with Arteta, and voila everyone saw the new Aaron Ramsey. He was giving the balls away lesser than before, running, making tackles and intercepting passes. Gradually, he was proving most of his doubters wrong. But I, think something else might have also helped Ramsey other than working hard in training and playing in position where less space is available. It was playing alongside a more secure midfielder, who can mop up his mistakes. In Arteta, he had a less adventurous partner, which he never used to have before on the flanks. His job in the flanks and other positions were to hold ball and cross and be more creative with less space. There lay the prblem, as Ramsey has always been a runner but he was never one to turn his marker away with a quick trick or skill nor did he have the speed and acceleration of Theo or Chambo.

In the box to box position he was under less pressure to create and beat his opponents’ one on one. His job was to run, make tackles, intercept and to link attack with defense. In Arteta, he had a tactical genius who would quietly do the dirty job of stopping the opponents from making a run onto space. So, Ramsey was always having a helping hand, which inspired him to make tackles knowing that even if he failed he would have Arteta to help him out. They were working as a team not as individuals. Ramsey’s stats improved in the 2^nd half of the season, when he was regularly making tackles and interception. He excelled in his game especially in the month of April and was awarded as the Player of the Month by Arsenal Fans. He was still getting dispossessed but he had Arteta to help him out. He was getting disposed more in the opponent’s third rather than  Arsenal's defensive third.  With Arteta,  playing occasionally  further up in the pitch, allowed Ramsey to make telling contribution to the game.  We can see that by analyzing that Ramsey had made 47 key passes to Arteta’s 28. The number of fouls Arteta fouls made over the season shows that how often he was there to mop up mistakes made by Ramsey or other players.  Ramsey would go on to play 30 through balls over the season in all competition.  As the season ended Ramsey must have basked in the support shown by fans and critics over his improved form. He was still a bit disappointing in his shooting and creativity, but he knew that. According to Ramsey in preseason:

 “It’s something I need to improve on, hopefully I can do that in the new season.“I’m getting into the positions and just need to be a bit more composed in those areas.”

 So, he knew exactly that he can score goals, as his work rate, intelligence and superb engine enabled him to be at the right place at the right time but when it came to the end product he always failed. He must have worked very hard in the preseason on his shooting and finishing.

Wenger must have recognized the gem he had in his hand and chose to play him in the base of the midfield over Wilshere in the pre-season.  The decision was made easier for Wenger due to Wilshere’s fitness issue. Ramsey went on the Asia tour and Emirates cup starting alongside Arteta or Wilshere. He had a full preseason where he was building his confidence by nutmeging a few opponents in the Asia tour. But I guess, his faith in himself in front of the goal must have been re-instated in the last friendly match against Manchester City in Helsinki where he rounded up a very reputed keeper  in Joe Hart to score his first goal of the preseason.

At the start of the season, Ramsey looked confident by having won over the supporters and critics alike by his last season’s and preseason’s performances. Everyone knew that he was almost back to his pre-injury level. He started games more confidently making runs into the channels and getting into position. He became the midfield runner,who would get into spaces an opposition defender vacates. This kind of midfielder we had missed since Cesc left.  He also showed his confidence over his shooting by starting to shoot from outside the box. He scored his first goal of the season as he shot outside the box against Fenerbache and Demirel couldn’t keep the shot out. He also tried to shoot one aginst Fulham which fortuitously fell on Giroud’s feet to tap it home. In the meantime he was passing at a greater accuracy level. He was making tackles like the world would end. He averages around 5 tackles in a match. He has the highest amount of tackle made in EPL. He has also improved his interception per game. He has started most of the matches alongside Flamini. Flamini, like Arteta, is a tactical holding midfielder. He likes to sit further back than Arteta would prefer to do. This gives Ramsey even more freedom to go ahead and make a telling contribution. His Key passes stats are superb for a box to box Midfielder. He is getting continuously in great position and his finishing has improved by heaps and bounds. Flamini’s reluctance to go further up helps him to control the flow of the game like Cesc did. Ramsey has already played the ball through 13 times this season, its 45% of his corresponding stat last season. He has already made 43 tackles whereas in the entire last season he had made only 86. Flamini’s conservative game is allowing Ramsey to further evolve as a complete midfielder.

Arteta has helped Ramsey evolve his defensive and link up play whereas Flamini has helped Ramsey to be more adventurous than he would be if he is paired with Arteta.  Flamini’s conservative Game and Arteta’s tactical shrewdness has bought out the best of both worlds in Ramsey. This doesn’t mean in anyway that Ramsey didn’t work his ass off in the training ground. These two midfield partner act as supporting characters, who give him the confidence to go ahead and express himself, while they stay behind him to help him out if he errs. Wenger should also be given credit to acknowledge the gem he has in his hand and to give him enough playing time to get his confidence back. To have the guts to play him at times ahead of Wilshere in the double- pivot, is not a feat many managers could perform.

Ramsey hopefully continues his form for next 10 years and proves to be a legend who was almost lost due to the impatient nature of football fans these days.  Now come on Ramsey You have to score two against Napoli.

Come on you Gunners!!!!!!!!!!!!!