NEW FEARS OVER UNHAPPY RAMBO
Emery faces battle to hang on to midfielder Aaron after dropping him
........................... 54 ................................... 0 ......... 1 ........ 0 ................... 0 ...................... 11 .............. 7 .... 63.6% ...................... 0 ......................... 1 ............................... 2 ......................... 0 .... 7.3km .............................. 14 .......... 32.5km/h UNAI EMERY is facing the first major test of his managerial reign over Aaron Ramsey. places. Granit Xhaka was subbed at half-time, Mesut Ozil was also replaced, and Ramsey did come on as a second-half substitute.
He looked annoyed after the Chelsea game and did not want to talk to the media afterwards.
New Gunners manager Emery said after losing to the Blues he wanted to find the right balance in his line-up and that was the reason he made changes.
But it now remains to be seen whether Ozil (below) will keep his place for the West Ham game on Saturday after the former Germany star was substituted in another disappointing display. Arsenal remain confident Ramsey will sign a new deal, but they do face a major issue because he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.
The Wales star has been one of Arsenal’s most important and influential players in recent seasons, but the two parties are a long way apart on new terms.
There has been interest in him from both Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as from foreign clubs. The player’s advisers have seen Arsenal raise the bar with contracts after putting Ozil on £350,000 a week.
Ramsey knows he would command in excess of £250,000 a week as a free agent, and Arsenal now face a battle to keep him, especially with doubts over his place simmering away in the background.