LAST MAN STANDING
... but there’s still no new deal for Ramsey
In the heat of Singapore, Aaron Ramsey casts his mind back almost six years. The Arsenal midfielder is reflecting on a now infamous photograph taken in December 2012 — Arsene Wenger stands in a boardroom behind the seated Carl Jenkinson, Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Wenger’s idea was clear: to create what he described as a ‘British core’ and a new dynasty for Arsenal. Yet, as the post-Wenger era begins, Ramsey is last man standing.
Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gibbs have all moved on while Jenkinson was omitted from the tour of Singapore and will be sold this summer.
Ramsey, now 27 and Arsenal’s longestserving player, says: ‘Yes, it’s a bit strange. There’s a lot of change in football and people have to adapt quickly to the next thing.’ The question for Ramsey now is whether he will be the final face to be crossed off the picture. His contract expires next summer and despite public pleas from new manager Unai Emery for Arsenal to get the deal over the line, several months of negotiations are still to bear fruit.
‘We are communicating,’ Ramsey says. ‘My agent and the club are speaking but are yet to come to an agreement... for football reasons. This is a great club to be at and I’m excited to get going under this manager. We’re just yet to come to an agreement.’ Ramsey earns £110,000 a week and Arsenal’s existing five-year offer would net him a substantial increase.
‘It’s my decision,’ he insists. ‘Whatever I decide to do, that’s on me. Do I feel under pressure? no. The only thing that makes it awkward is you keep asking the questions. It’s like having a baby in the car saying “Are we there yet, are we there yet?”
‘I’m a player who always gives 100 per cent regardless of what’s going on. I will give everything to achieve something special this season. I’ve got a year left and I’m looking forward to being in an Arsenal shirt in the new season. We have to come to an agreement with what we want, so maybe something might happen.’
Ramsey has been impressed by Emery’s methods and the pair have had several meetings already in pre-season. He makes clear his preferred position.
‘In the middle of the park!’ he grins. ‘I’ve made it clear many, many times that I don’t like playing out wide.’
It is 10 years since he joined Arsenal as a 17-year- old and this is Ramsey’s first pre-season under a manager other than Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman spotted his talent, nurtured him back to fitness and form after an horrific leg break and backed him when supporters turned on him.
He says: ‘I had a fantastic relationship with Arsene, I’ll be forever grateful. I know he is always at the end of the phone. He said pick up the phone if I ever need his help.’
A source reveals that Emery is an admirer. He likes Ramsey’s lung-busting runs from midfield, his sharp touch, vision and knack for goalscoring.
Ramsey says: ‘It hasn’t happened to me at club level before where a new manager has come in. You have to give everything in every session and every game.
‘So if he likes what he sees, he likes what he sees. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. It’s important for a new manager to make his ideas clear. He’s passionate, tactically we’ve been doing a lot of work. I’m excited. All the players are looking forward to this.’
Emery intends to name five captains this season — an approach more common in Spain — and Ramsey is one of the contenders. Would that provide an extra motivation to stay?
He smiles: ‘The captaincy is a massive responsibility and it would be an honour to captain this club.
‘The manager is yet to decide so we’ll have to wait and see. But if the opportunity is there, I don’t think any player would say no. I’m no different.’