Talented duo sign new contracts, but they must wait for first-team chance
Posted by Jeorge Bird on July 3, 2009
Two of Arsenal’s brightest starlets have put pen to paper on extended deals in recent days, with Jack Wilshere following Aaron Ramsey in signing a new long-term contract at the club.
Both made an impression during their first season with the first-team squad, but, in reality, they are still some way from becoming regulars.
Upon signing his contract, Ramsey, rather unsuprisingly, stated that he hopes to be involved in more first-team games next season, especially in the Premier League where he made only one start last campaign.
When you have somebody like Cesc Fabregas at the club, it is going to take something special to dislodge them, and Ramsey is not there yet. However, an injury to Fabregas, god forbid, could open the door for somebody like Ramsey to come on leaps and bounds just like Kieran Gibbs did in the absence of Gael Clichy.
In Champions League games, Wenger sometimes adopts a 4-2-3-1 formation which would be detrimental to Ramsey’s chances as he is not entirely comfortable as a holding midfielder and the Gunners already have an abundance of attacking options.
There has been talk of the Welsh international going out on loan next season and that could be a good idea. Wenger will keep him here for pre-season and, in all likelihood, he won’t be going anywhere, but a loan spell could see him getting regular games in a pressure environment, whereas at Arsenal he is considered above the Reserves but is not quite a sensible option as a regular in the first-team just yet.
As for Wilshere, there was once a school of thought that he was ‘too good’ to go on loan. Maybe this is true, but, if he were to spend the season in the Championship, or even at a lower Premier League club, would it do him any harm? Perhaps in a footballing team like West Brom he would thrive and also learn how to deal with the physical rigours of the division. At Arsenal, he will definitely not be considered a regular next season; although he would expect to play more first-team games.
What next season holds for these young starlets remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure, they both have very, very bright futures ahead of them.
john said
Going to be intresting to see what wenger does to them. But cause of the new UEFA rules they might be playing more. Likewise with gibbs and maybe lansbury.
I am more intrested to see if ppl like ayling could step or even bartley. Luke Ayling for me is a premiership defender the guy is hard physical strong defender whos got great positional sense
gooner said
Luke Ayling is not quick enough
Supergunner07 said
Positioning & game understanding is far more important than speed, just look @ Jamie Carragher
Supergunner07 said
@ John, there is no new UEFA rules stipulating that you must play academy products. The rule is that champions league squad list must include 6 homegrown products [meaning academy products or players trained for 3 years under a club before those players turned 21 years old] thus Cesc, Djourou, Denilson, Walcott, Song, Traore, Clichy, Senderos, Vela with Ramsey joining that list soon plus the academy products also qualifying.
South Yorkshire Gunner said
They are both better options than Diaby or Song or Eboue.
dean said
Jeorge do you think Merida will be more involved in the first team next year? I think he will eventually be better then fabregas.
Mark said
Wilshere isn’t too good to go out on loan but last year he was too young. If he can’t get the breaks here then inevitably he’ll need a spell somewhere else and its getting ahrder everyyear at the arsenal. A few years back, someone like Denilson could get chances as seniors were retiring, now we have a squad full of 20-25 year olds. Wigan could be a good choice now Martinez has taken over, his style of football would be perfect for most Arsenal players. I’d love to see two or three of our lads go there.
KM in WALES said
i think wenger must give Ramsey more gametime nxt season – 75th minute when we’r cruising in a game maybe.What’s goin to happen to Merida?he seems a REALLY exciting to me,is he going on loan nxt season?if yes i’d love to see him at a championship or premiership side.Didnt Merida play for Real Soceidad(sp?)earlier in his career?if yes how did he fare? I’d love to see Wilshere go on loan nxt year – again to a prem or champ side.he needs that learning outside of his comfort zone.
Supergunner07 said
Ramsey has made 20 1st appearance in his first season an 17 year old including appearance in the knockout stages of champion league against Roma [not a meaningless match].
Problem in the british game is that people try to make young players what they are not, also if he was @ small club and was playing 55 game a season that doesnt mean attention-to-detail is being paid to his weakness in order for him improve. check the articles below where Wenger makes 2 points why he hasnt played astronomical number of games [technique still needs improving and his body is still growing/burnouts].
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-opportunity-knocks-early-for-ramsey
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arshavin-desperate-to-face-hull-in-fa-cup
randall said
didn’t wilshere only sign a long term contract is january both him and ramsey are pure class though. Also do you know how long mark randall has left on his contract that he signed last summer
Aaron said
I’ve always though that Wenger likes to keep his special players close to him (not send them on loan) like he did with Fabregas and Clichy. So I have a feeling Ramsey and Wilshere wont be going anywhere.
SNED777 said
Gibbsy has a new contract as well now (Y) but I’d prefer them to sort out RVP’s contract
delano walters said
i know this is not directly related but i was wondering wat do u think will happen to fran merida…do u think he will figure i teh fisrt team setup anytime soon?
john said
Hi if ramsey, wilshere and merida started for arsenal would this be the team?
Almunia
sagna Gallas vermaelen clichy
Ramsey Song Merida
Wilshere
Bendtner Walcott?
Jom of Arsenal said
These are good enough for our first team I think. I have a feeling that Ramsey can be a better midfielder than diaby both in the center and in the flanks, Wilshere is maybe a bigger talent than Cesc was and will maybe be even better. It all depends in the preseason games. If the do well like gibbs did then they will stay and not be loaned out.
ali said
i also believe wilshere has more potential than cesc, i feel they have very similar passing abilities, however wilshere has that additional, mesmerising ability to glide past players in the same way iniesta does im really looking forward to watching his development over the next few years