If Arsenal are serious, they need to rethink their use of Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey returns to Wembley on Saturday, one year on from the moment which made sense of his whole career so far. Not many players get to score an extra-time winner in an FA Cup final but Ramsey did last May, ensuring that whatever he goes on to do at Arsenal – and he may well do an awful lot – he will always be their drought-ender.

It was the apex of Ramsey’s career but also of that of Jack Wilshere, who came on to spark Arsenal’s extra-time push. These are the two midfielders – along with Theo Walcott – brought together to anchor Arsenal’s new team in their new stadium. Finally, this time last year, they had their prize.

There comes a point with every footballer at the age of 23 or 24 when they have to make their promise real, to reach a level of performance and stay there, rather than just touching it in flashes. Wilshere may still not quite be there yet – this season was another one ruined by an ankle injury – but Ramsey now unquestionably is.

While Ramey’s cup-winning goal was special, his run of form in the first half of last season was even more impressive: 15 goals between August and November, a run of consistent top performance beyond what Wilshere has so far produced for the club.

There is no-one else at Arsenal – and few others in the Premier League – who can produce what Ramsey does. The way he senses opportunities and slices through the lines gives him an extra threat beyond most other top-flight midfielders. Arsene Wenger compared him to Frank Lampard last autumn and it was not hard to see why.

In a team which is often prone to procrastination on the ball, Ramsey gives them a simple incisive edge they get from no-one else. Arsenal are at their most dangerous with Ramsey in the team, and not every one of his team-mates can say that.

And yet this year, the season after his career-best form and his only trophy, Ramsey has struggled to find his best level. He has suffered from three separate hamstring injuries, each one coming when he was just about to hit that natural rhythm with which he plays his best football.

The first came against Tottenham in late September, and just when Ramsey was back to his best – producing an astonishing first half at Galatasaray away in early December – it went again. Another six weeks out, and then on his fifth game back, Leicester at home, it happened a third time. When I do come back from injuries, it takes a few games to get going, then I get back into it, then I break down again,” sighed Ramsey, in April. It has been a stop-start season.”

The problem for Ramsey is that his during his last stop, Wenger finally found an effective midfield. He has Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla in midfield together now, and so Ramsey has been stuck out on the right. It is not his natural game and he does not enjoy it, and Ramsey took advantage of a sponsor’s event last week to make clear how he felt.

I am not hiding away from it, I want to be playing in the middle,” Ramsey said, almost unprompted. I like to get the ball and drive the team forward, getting the ball a lot more in the middle, being involved in everything. Out on the wing you are relying on other people to get you in the wing, so it is a bit frustrating.”

Ramsey was afforded a central start in their next game – against Sunderland – with Coquelin rested, but was benched on the final day and if he starts at Wembley, it will surely be back on the right.

It may well be enough to retain the FA Cup, and Ramsey could even repeat last year’s emotional moment. But he is not being used in his best role, the role that brought his best ever form. Winning the FA Cup is important but if Arsenal are serious about pushing beyond the last two seasons and aiming for the biggest prizes, Wenger will need to recalibrate his team.

Arsenal’s most incisive player has to be restored to his most involved role, even though it means sacrifices elsewhere. Ramsey – not Wilshere or Walcott – is the best of his generation at Arsenal, the one who must be built around. The team in the last few weeks of the season, with him on the right, has been a temporary fix. As ever at Arsenal, a problem deferred is not a problem solved.