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After 11 years of service, Aaron Ramsey has decided to leave the club he joined when he was just 18 years old. As the Welshman leaves Arsenal for Juventus, the gunners are left to fulfil the difficult task of replacing him. The key contributions of Aaron Ramsey over a span of 11 years have shown that replacing him will be no easy task. He played 262 league games where he scored 40 goals and 41 assists. Was it not for his horrific injury in 2010, these numbers would have been prolifically higher. Oh, and not to forget his two vital winners in two FA cup finals.
So how does Arsenal go about replacing a player that has been so important for them and has qualities that are hard to replicate? Well, they could look at the midfield options within the club and try to promote the youth available to them. However, it is clear that they will most probably go out into the market and find a suitable replacement. So here are five possible replacements for Aaron Ramsey.
#1 - Dennis Praet
A link that dates back to a few years ago. Dennis Praet was a name that was mentioned to step into the boots of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla as they left the North London team. However, Arsenal's history with the Belgian dates even back as Arsene Wenger gave him a guided tour of Arsenal's training facilities when he was a 15-year-old Genk player. According to reports, an Arsenal scout watched him in Sampdoria's 2-1 loss to Lazio.
Dennis Praet has scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists for Sampadoria. This raises doubts over whether he can definitely replace Ramsey considering Ramsey's prolific direct contributions to Arsenal in terms of goals and assists. However, his style of play is one that suits the gunners - from quick passes to laying off the ball, Praet has all the qualities to gel into an Arsenal team that has been erratic this season. He's also not afraid to take on defenders and dribble his way into the final third - a dynamic that Ramsey offered quite often.
#2 James Maddison
When Leicester signed James Maddison over the summer, many pundits raised their doubts over the foxes' new number 10. However, Maddison has taken little to no time to adapt to The Premier League. Scoring seven goals, providing seven assists and averaging 2.8 key passes per game, Maddison has shown his quality in the final third this season. His set pieces and determination to often take long shots also shows how vital a player he could be for the gunners. He could play anywhere in central midfield and perform at the very top level.
Furthermore, according to former Chelsea player, Tony Cascasarino, the young Englishman is the answer to the Gunners' problems. Indeed he is true about many points as James Maddison isn't a player who needs a lot of space and time on the ball to make an impact. He can work under pressure, and deliver during crunch moments - something Arsenal players have lacked over the course of the season. He is not the only Leicester player on the lookout for a move to Arsenal as Youri Tielemans has also been linked with the club.
#3 Cristopher Nkunku
Another player that perfectly fits into Arsenal's DNA. Quick passes and inch-perfect through balls are a few of the many highlights of this young player's game. He has scored two goals and provided three assists in only 13 appearances, out of which 8 of them have come as a substitute.
The Gunners attempted to sign the 21-year-old on loan during the January transfer window but failed to agree on a deal with the French champions. According to Le Parisien, PSG is now open to selling Nkunku in the early stages of the summer window and are willing to accept a €20 million (£17m) offer from Arsenal.
Nkunku is only 21-years-old and has a huge career ahead of him, Arsenal might just be the place for him to take his career to the next level.
#4 Nicolo Barella
A key interest from many clubs for the 22-year-old Italian has risen in recent times. The midfielder from Cagliari can be compared to Lucas Torreira as a brash, competitive midfielder who is not afraid to tackle. Averaging 2.8 tackles per game, Barella has shown his defensive abilities this season.
Barella has a €50m release clause in his current contract which is slightly more expensive as compared to the other midfielders on this list. Arsenal sent scouts to keep an eye on the young midfielder in his game against Juventus.
With interest from the likes of Inter Milan and Chelsea, it seems that Arsenal might not end up signing Nicolo Barella. However, he remains to be one of the top replacements for Aaron Ramsey. Furthermore, he can perfectly allow squad rotation in times of injury as Arsenal will hope to put their best foot forward in all competitions next season onwards.
#5 - Franck Kessie
Milan has had their fair share of problems this season, but one of the positives from their season definitely has to be Franck Kessie. Although he has scored only five goals this season, these goals have also come during crucial moments. Be it his penalty against Lazio or his vital opening goal against Roma, Kessie has delivered for AC Milan when they needed him the most. He has scored 5 vital goals this season and averaged a 48.9 passes per game this season.
This kind of big-game player is what Arsenal need in the heart of midfield. Franck Kessie is a calm-headed, intelligent player who can fit into Arsenal with ease. He has held talks with AC Milan over his desire to leave the club with Arsenal being the most possible destination. Playing alongside Lucas Torreira, Franck Kessie can provide the calmness that Arsenal lack.
