While Everton’s contribution to the enthralling 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday should not be simply swept under the carpet, the sub-plot to events was Arsenal’s visible fatigue, embodied most meticulously through a rather subdued Aaron Ramsey display.
Ramsey has been by far the standout figure in Arsenal’s continued rise but, bearing a striking resemblance to Arsene Wenger’s predicament with Olivier Giroud up front, counting on the Welshman time and time again is beginning to take its toll on the former Cardiff man.
To borrow a Wengerism, Ramsey appears to be ‘in the red’ as a result of the pressures that stem from his new role and responsibility as Arsenal’s leading light. He would certainly benefit from a break against Napoli tonight if he is to rediscover his golden touch for the massively significant trip to Manchester City on Saturday.
Anything less than a three-goal defeat will do for the Gunners this evening and, thus, presents Wenger with the perfect opportunity to bring in the supporting cast and hand his all-star equivalent a well-earned breather.
Wenger will be undoubtedly be wary of wholesale changes given the attacking threat Napoli pose and admitted recently that central defenders are rotated less as the position relies primarily on concentration, rather than fitness.
Fitness is the buzzword of Aaron Ramsey’s footballing profile, such are his stamina levels and all-action performances. But expecting to maintain this level of intensity and team it with the goalscoring virtuosity he has demonstrated on several occasions this season will only be achievable through a recuperation period.
The trip to the San Paolo in Naples is not quite a dead rubber, but it’s the next best thing and if Wenger cannot be persuaded to make changes in personnel ahead of a critical test of his side’s Premier League credentials at the weekend, then the Frenchman runs the risk of burning out his main cavalry and derailing the title charge.
It’s important to consider Everton’s role in quietening the top flight’s outstanding midfield individual too, illustrated by his action areas, with his most prominent position during the game (28.24%) coming in more of a reserved midfield role.
Ross Barkley’s dynamism and elusive runs wreaked havoc at times for Mikel Arteta in between the lines of defence and midfield and Ramsey naturally stepped back to help patrol defensive areas with his Spanish partner in crime.
It came at a cost, though, with his 35 out of 46 completed passes, a 76% accuracy, lower than his impressive season average of 85% and markedly down on his 81% and 83% against Liverpool and Cardiff respectively, when he was afforded more of a licence to get forward and swarm around Olivier Giroud on both occasions.
It paid off, notching a stunner winner against Liverpool before a neat brace on his return to Cardiff epitomised the merits of Ramsey’s qualities from an attacking perspective.
But what has ultimately been the most remarkable feat of an astonishing personal campaign for Ramsey has been his defensive contribution, one major factor in the shunting of Jack Wilshere to the right wing. The results from that experiment have been mixed but switching Ramsey back to the central role he craved when marginalised out wide at times last season has proven a masterstroke.
But Everton’s truculent style – which combated Arsenal’s free-flowing football perfectly – even rendered Ramsey’s defensive statistics somewhat irrelevant, with the Gunners maestro only able to make one tackle, lose his one headed duel and make just three interceptions.
When his side have come under the cosh at some point during a contest, the games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham stick in the mind here, Ramsey has largely delivered the goods.
Against Liverpool, six out of seven tackles were completed, two out of four headed duels were also won and an interception to boot tallied with his consistently efficient use of the ball, none less than when he thumped a volley past Simon Mignolet to cap the victory against the red half of Merseyside.
Against United, he completed four of his six tackles attempted and Spurs, who fielded a supposed tackling specialist in Etienne Capoue, would feel the full force of the resurgent Ramsey, who managed a respectable seven out of eight tackles, three out of six headed duels, three interceptions and three complete clearances.
Mathieu Flamini was drafted into the Arsenal setup to provide the enforcer-like figure in the middle third of the pitch so sorely lacking in recent years, but Ramsey has bought into this role too to help add substance to the idea that Arsenal’s lightweight midfield is a thing of the past.
But, in proving his capabilities in both aspects of midfield play, Ramsey is applying more pressure to a body which needs rest and a chance to recover in time for the busy festive period which could prove paramount to Arsenal’s chances of success in the final reckoning.
It was noticeable, for instance, that Ramsey only posted two shots against Everton, forcing Tim Howard into two saves but only really one of any particular importance with a snapshot volley at the back post.
Tonight’s encounter provides Arsenal with another stern test but given the miraculous circumstances which Napoli require to topple their fellow Champions League Group F opponents, the odds are stacked firmly against the Serie A outfit.
Resting Ramsey, Mesut Özil, Giroud et al is a gamble nonetheless for Wenger. But it’s a calculated gamble and one the Frenchman must seize if he is to maximise his Welsh prodigy’s precocious talent when his side return to domestic matters at the weekend.