So, Pep Guardiola is off to Manchester.
Arsenal have managed not to sell any key players since Robin van Persie left in 2012, with Bacary Sagna (whose contract expired) the only notable departure since then. However, our resolve could be pushed to the limit this coming summer.
With Guardiola off to Manchester City, he will likely overhaul a midfield which contains Fabian Delph, Fernandinho, Fernando and a 32-year-old Yaya Touré. According to Football Insider, one of the Spaniard’s main targets for a midfield berth is Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey.
Since last winter, Ramsey has frequently found himself out wide for Arsenal, and it’s pretty clear he’s not fond of the role. In the summer he’ll have two years remaining on his current contract, leaving Arsenal with a big decision to make and possibly a big challenge to keep him. The Welshman was pushed out wide to accommodate the midfield pairing of Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla, so what now?
Both players were injured and Ramsey has done well back in the middle, hopefully he’ll keep his place there now. Cazorla is 31 and recovering from a serious injury, and at 25 Ramsey is very much the (present and) future of Arsenal’s midfield. Losing Ramsey would be an enormous setback, but losing him to Guardiola’s Manchester City, our domestic rivals, would be unforgivable.