Craig Bellamy Claims Mesut Ozil Should Make Way for Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal

Craig Bellamy believes Aaron Ramsey should play instead of Mesut Ozil in the centre of Arsenal's midfield three.

The Welshman, making his debut on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, insisted his compatriot "has to be in the centre" to play his best, and that Ozil should shift out wide to facilitate Ramsey.

The 24-year-old only recently returned from injury, taking up a deep-lying central role in Arsene Wenger's starting XI—as Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla are both sidelined—which Bellamy believes restricts Ramsey, per Sky Sports MNF (via MailOnline's Simeon Gholam):

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For me Aaron has to play in a three (in midfield). But he has to be in the centre for me, if you are going to ask him to sit then you are restricting a lot of his game. (Mesut) Ozil has played left at certain times, and Aaron has played right a lot as well. It's not just me being biased, I've known Aaron since he was five years of age, but i would play him central instead of Ozil.

It might be a difficult statement at this moment because of Ozil's (form), but I feel personally watching his game and watching him develop over the last couple of years that he is one of the top central players in world football when he's fit and he proved that last summer when Barcelona wanted him.

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While Ramsey is undoubtedly a very talented player, it is a bold call to suggest Wenger should play him ahead of Ozil in the playmaking role.

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The 27-year-old German is having his best season at the Emirates in the current Premier League campaign having scored twice and provided a staggering 12 assists playing in the No. 10 position, per WhoScored.com.

In creative terms, the statistics indicate there is no player currently better than Ozil across Europe, per Squawka:

Indeed, Bellamy's suggestion that such an in-form Ozil should play out of position to facilitate an inconsistent Ramsey was met with derision by European football pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft:

However, Ramsey is certainly a terrific option for Wenger to have as a back-up No. 10 should Ozil pick up an injury or need to be rested throughout the season.

The former Cardiff City man has been plagued by fitness issues throughout his career, but he has shown in fits and starts that he has the ability to become a world-class player.

He is a natural goalscorer and a fine creative presence, but his ability to play deep and control the tempo of the game make him a huge asset for Wenger in a deeper-lying role.

Few will agree with Bellamy that Ramsey currently warrants a place ahead of Ozil as the No. 10, and Wenger undoubtedly is right to be playing him deep at the moment—especially considering the Gunners' injury issues.

But the Wales international can only be positively influenced by playing alongside the masterful Ozil and could yet reach the same level given an injury-free stretch of playing time.