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Arsenal legend Paul Merson is not surprised that Arsenal are set to allow Aaron Ramsey leave for free.
The Welshman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is expected to depart with bookmakers like Betfred offering very short odds on his exit after he failed to agree a new contract with Unai Emery’s side.
Merson believes the decision was made to let Ramsey go because manager Unai Emery believes he can find a better player to replace the 27 year-old.
Still, the ex-Gunner says the contract fiasco is just ‘typical Arsenal’.
He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “It seems to me that the manager has said, ‘I can get better somewhere else’.
“The contract was on the table and Arsenal withdrew it, and it sounds like to me the manager has said, ‘hold on a minute, I’m not giving him that kind of money, I can get a better player than that’.
“But giving a player £200,000-a-week is going to be a lot less than buying a £40million player and giving him £130,000-a-week.
“It’s typical Arsenal isn’t it.
“How can they let the contract of a quality player like that run down? They’ve done it too many times now.
“When I was there, when there was 18 months or two years left on your contract you were called in for another one. My contract never, ever, went to less than 18 months at Arsenal.”
Aaron Ramsey joined Arsenal from hometown club Cardiff City in 2008, and has made over 300 appearances for the club. He’s currently the club’s longest-serving player, but could now join one of Arsenal’s biggest rivals for nothing.
The 27-year-old, who turns 28 on Boxing Day, is arguably now entering the peak of his career and a departure from the Emirates would be a disappointment for many passionate Gunners supporters.
Currently in his 11th season in north London, the Welshman hasn’t always been the most consistent of performers, but has bounced back well after suffering what could have been a career-ending injury at Stoke near the start of his Arsenal tenure.
One of his standout seasons was the 2013/14 campaign, where he netted 16 goals, scoring 10 times in the Premier League and five times in European competitions.
That is the only campaign where the midfielder scored more goals than he did last season, with Ramsey finding the back of the net seven times in the league in Arsene Wenger’s last season with the club.
Should his new manager to be doing more to try and keep the improving player?
