5 Potential replacements for Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal

Arsenal have gotten their season back on track after a rocky start which saw them finish pointless after the opening couple of league fixtures. Since then, Arsenal has been on an upward curve and have registered 7 wins on the trot, across all competitions and have jumped to 5th spot in the league table.

While the last month has been smooth for the Gunners on the pitch, off the pitch, they’ve had to face uncomfortable questions about their star midfielder, Ramsey. A week ago, reports emerged that Arsenal had withdrawn their contract offer for the Welshman.

Ramsey was expected to help usher in a new era at Arsenal with Emery considering him as a focal point in midfield. However, over the course of the first two months, Emery has quickly found out that Ramsey is not fitting into his system and is now looking to offload the Welshman.

Ramsey has been a vital cog for Arsenal over the years. He has been a big-match player and came up with winning goals in the 2014 and 2017 FA Cup finals. A firm fan favourite, it would be extremely hard for Gooners to see Ramsey donning the colours of one of their rivals.

However, with his departure seeming imminent, the Gunners need to start planning for life after the Welsh wizard. Through the course of this article, we would look at 5 potential replacements the Gunners should look to sign once Ramsey bids adieu to the Emirates.

Here is a look at those potential replacements:

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#5. Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)

Loftus-Cheek hasn't unlocked his vast potential yet

The English midfielder has been at Chelsea for a number of years yet hasn’t really made the grade at Stamford Bridge. Last season, he was shipped out on loan to Crystal Palace and the strong midfielder gave a good account of himself, thus earning a ticket to Russia in the process.

At 1.91m, Loftus-Cheek is an imposing figure in the middle of the park. Additionally, he is blessed with quick feet and vision that one generally doesn’t associate with players his size. These attributes make him a complete midfielder. Though he has the talent to be playing regularly in the English top-flight, he hasn’t been nearly as consistent.

Hence, a change of scenery could be the right move in order to unlock his vast potential. With Ramsey set to leave, the Gunners could invest in Loftus-Cheek and provide him the platform to become a world-beater. He is cut out from the same cloth as Ramsey and would provide a good option centrally for the Gunners.

If the Gunners actually make a move for him in January or next summer is anyone’s guess right now. Though it would represent a huge gamble, his abilities suggest that it could be a gamble worth taking.

#4. Jean Michael Seri (Fulham)

Seri has hit the ground running

Jean Michael Seri arrived on English shores after he surprisingly signed for Fulham. The Ivory Coast international has hit the ground running and has been a stand-out performer for the Cottagers in the initial phase of the season.

An all-action midfielder by trade, Seri also possesses an exquisite range of passing. In the league this season, he averages 66.4 passes per game at a remarkable accuracy of 89%.

However, it is the defensive side of his game that has really improved since his time in France. In the current season, he averages 2.1 tackles per game along with 1.3 interceptions.

In addition to these attributes, Seri has displayed the ability to come up with something special. More than anything else, it is the X-Factor he possesses, which could lead the Gunners to focus their attention on Seri.

At 27 years of age, Seri is entering his peak. The time is right for the Gunners to make a move for him and let him fill the void left by Ramsey. If Fulham let him go after a solitary season is another matter but in Seri, the Gunners could stumble upon the perfect central midfielder.

#3. Youri Tielemans (AS Monaco)

Tielemans is an exciting prospect

The Belgian starlet has been impressive over the past couple of seasons. Having joined Monaco from Anderlecht, he has taken the Ligue 1 by storm. Moreover, he was impressive whenever called upon by Belgium in the World Cup.

Tielemans is a dynamic central midfielder who likes to dribble past his opponents and tee up his teammates. He is exciting on the ball and would help the Gunners offensively. Additionally, he possesses the unique ability to unlock stubborn defences. These qualities make him a perfect fit for Arsenal.

Defensively, he isn’t bad either. The Belgian loves to tackle and averages nearly 2 tackles per game in the Ligue 1. He would add a lot of bite to the midfield and could form an exciting partnership with Torreira at the heart of the midfield.

Tielemans also has age on his side with him being only 21. The starlet could represent a long-term option for the Gunners. Though he would not come cheap, due to his ability and age, the Gunners should pursue him with all their might.

#2. Piotr Zielinski (Napoli)

Zielinski has captured everyone's imagination

The Polish international has been turning heads with his performances this term for his club, Napoli. Even at the World Cup, where Poland were miserable, Zielinski was one of the few who could hold their head high.

Zielinski plays slightly higher up the pitch than Ramsey and prefers playing as an attacking midfielder. His versatility and ability to play anywhere across the midfield makes him an exciting option for the Gunners.

His biggest trait is his ability to waltz past opposition players, using his sumptuous dribbling prowess. In addition to this, his creativity is second to none and he prides himself on creating opportunities out of nothing. With Aubameyang and Lacazette leading the line, the prospect of Ozil, Mkhitaryan and Zielinski feeding them is a delicious one indeed.

At 24 years of age, the Polish midfielder has his best years ahead of him. The Gunners need to ensure that his best years are played at the Emirates rather than at the San Paolo.

Though it would cost an absolute fortune to even make Napoli contemplate selling their prized asset, Zielinski’s attributes make him worth every penny. As of now, the only thing the Gooners can do is wait with bated breath and hope that Arsenal goes all-out for this exciting Polish talent.

#1. Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain)

Rabiot would be the ideal like for like replacement

The French midfielder has been embroiled in a long-drawn contract saga. Having failed to tie him down to a contract, PSG are now in serious danger of losing him on a free next summer.

While a player of Rabiot’s quality would find several suitors, the Gunners look like the best fit for him. Rabiot has evolved as a player over the last couple of seasons and a major part of his success is due to the confidence shown in him by Unai Emery, the current Arsenal manager. If he were to sign for the Gunners, he would be accorded the opportunity to work wonders with Emery again.

Rabiot’s playing style is very similar to Ramsey. Like Ramsey, he specialises in being a box-to-box midfielder, capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch. Rabiot would represent the ideal replacement for Ramsey and would provide the likes of Ozil and Mkhitaryan freedom to wreak havoc.

There aren’t many midfielders in the world of the ilk of Rabiot. Thus, PSG’s decision to let his contract run so deep has baffled many a football expert. However, one club who can benefit is Arsenal and they should pull out all the stops to make Rabiot the latest Frenchman in a long list of illustrious names to have donned the famous Red and White.

For all we know, Rabiot could be the final and missing piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw.