Raymond Verheijen believes Aaron Ramsey should LEAVE Arsenal to fulfill his potential.
The 43-year-old Dutchman, who formally worked as part of the Wales coaching staff, has blasted the Gunners’ training methods after Ramsey limped off during the club’s 2-1 win over Leicester City last night at the Emirates and insists the Welsh midfielder will never live up to his expectations if he keeps being overworked in training.
Quoted in the Daily Star, Verheijen said:
‘There are two solutions. Either Arsenal sort themselves out or Aaron has to go to a club where training is more balanced.
‘It’s one or the other. The medical staff can only cure the problem but football coaches cause the problem because they are responsible for football training sessions.’
Based on his current form this season, many Arsenal fans wouldn’t be too upset if Ramsey was to leave the club.
Last season, the Welshman was arguably one of Arsenal’s best performers, but it seems he has gone backwards rather than the opposite direction.
Last season, Ramsey found the back of the net 13 times in 32 games in all competitions (10 in 23 Premier League appearances), but this term he has only scored five goals in 36 outings (three in 18 league matches so far). Based on stats alone, he hasn’t progressed, and he’s playing in the same position he was in the previous campaign as well.
Training methods have been blamed for recurring and new injuries, yet nothing has changed – not as far as we know anyway.
Verheijen obviously knows Ramsey well from his Wales days, but the Dutchman’s comments are not necessary, especially after the midfielder picked up another injury!
Training methods? But it’s the same manager who trained the ‘Invincibles’ who knew no such recurrent long-term injuries. We also have players like Per, Flamini, Monreal, etc who manage to keep heathy for long spells. I think it has to do more with the player’s history and Wenger’s penchant to stick with injury-prone players hoping they would come good. This policy may have to be reviewed.