Arsenal Transfer News: Latest Aaron Ramsey, Chris Willock Rumours
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey revealed that a deal was in place for him to join Manchester United back in 2008, one he rejected to sign for the Gunners.
Ramsey signed for Arsenal as a highly touted 17-year-old who had helped Cardiff City reach the FA Cup final in 2008.
The Red Devils believed they had a deal sewn up for the Welshman, according to Metro's Sean Kearns: "Manchester United agreed a £5 million deal with the Welsh club and, given Ramsey supported the club, felt that they had tied up a deal for the midfielder."
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Yet Ramsey has recounted in an interview with Arsenal Player (h/t James Dickenson of the Daily Express) how a meeting with Gunners chief Arsene Wenger was all it took to change his mind: "I flew over to see the boss [Wenger], and I knew straight away that this was where I wanted to be, I wanted to be in his plans and I was just buzzing."
The midfield man emphasised how Arsenal made him feel wanted: “It was a bit surreal and I had to pinch myself, but they made me feel welcome straight away and made me feel like they were no different [to anyone else]."
This isn't the first time Ramsey has made reference to feeling more wanted by the Gunners than United. Back in 2013, he detailed how Arsenal presented him with a strategy from day one, per the Daily Telegraph's Mark Ogden: "I felt more wanted here [at Arsenal]. They did more things to try to get me. They had a plan set out for me and knew exactly how they wanted to develop me.”
Sir Alex Ferguson, who was United boss at the time, offered a differing account in his 2013 autobiography, according to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror: “Aaron Ramsey said before we played Arsenal one time that he had chosen Arsene's team over mine because Arsenal produce more players than Manchester United. I thought 'What world is he in?'"
Ferguson may have been baffled, but at the time he seemed to think he'd landed Ramsey ahead of his professional rival Wenger. As Dickenson noted, the Old Trafford club's official website even released an article confirming that a fee was agreed.
It's not easy deciding whether Ramsey made the right call or not. In terms of trophies, he should have joined United, who won three league titles, a pair of League Cups and an FA Cup in Ramsey's time at Arsenal. By contrast, the Welshman has just two FA Cups to show for his Gunners career.
Yet Ramsey may have been right to believe he could have been lost in the shuffle at United. Ferguson was able to offer his own very particular spin on history in his autobiography, but young players, particularly midfielders, didn't always find it easy to break through during the latter years of his reign.
Ferguson famously let a youthful Paul Pogba bolt for Juventus in 2012 with wage demands and playing-time issues. The Scot also kept Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in key squad roles well into the winters of their respective careers.
Wenger, meanwhile, has persisted in trying to build teams around precocious talents such as Ramsey. Events outside of his control have derailed those plans, like the broken leg Ramsey suffered after a clash with Stoke City centre-back Ryan Shawcross in 2010.
That injury, along with its subsequent layoff, came at a time when a young Ramsey was really coming into his own. Since then, persistent, niggling injuries have interrupted his progress.
When he's played, though, Ramsey has usually been exceptional. He was when he scored 16 goals in the 2013/14 season, including the winner in the FA Cup final to end Arsenal's trophy drought.
Ramsey's place at Arsenal is no longer so secure. Wenger has recruited Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka in recent seasons, and he also trusts French holding player Francis Coquelin and veteran Spanish schemer Santi Cazorla in the central midfield positions.
When Ramsey is involved now, it's most often on the right flank. It's a position he's not always seemed comfortable in, but one from which he can be surprisingly effective.
United are still aware of his talent and are reportedly keen on the 25-year-old for next summer, per the Sun (h/t Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News). Yet Ramsey remains key to any success Arsenal will attain in the immediate future.
United Want Top Gunners Youth
They couldn't get Ramsey, but the Red Devils are reportedly still keen on a young Arsenal prospect. The player in question is attacking midfield gem Chris Willock, according to Wally Downes Jr. of the Sun.
He noted how United may want to play Willock alongside his brother Matthew, an academy prospect in the red half of Manchester: "United have been credited with an interest in taking Chris north to reunite with his brother, but the Gunners would be crazy to let him go."
Fortunately, Wenger appears high on Willock. Back in May, the Frenchman said that the 18-year-old England talent already boasts rare qualities, per Nik Brumsack of the club's official website: “He can have a go at people, can get past people in one-on-ones. We forget sometimes that the basis of team sport is to first be strong one-against-one, and Chris has that quality."
He also praised Willock's performances during this pre-season. So far this season, Willock has appeared in both of the Gunners' matches in the EFL Cup, according to WhoScored.com.
Yet Willock is clearly earmarked for a bigger role in the near future, despite his limited playing time so far. Wenger has given a host of chances to youngsters in recent seasons, with Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi making the breakthrough into the first team.
Wenger won't want Willock continuing his development at another club, especially not a Premier League rival. The Frenchman been developing and progressing young players since taking over at Arsenal in 1996.
It's why Ramsey chose the Gunners. It's also why Willock's best chance of becoming a Premier League regular is to stay in north London.
