Aaron Ramsey has called out Kai Havertz for his lack of awareness in the 2-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth, a damaging result for Arsenal’s title hopes.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey is desperate to see his old club get their hands on the Premier League trophy with the north Londoners’ last title coming in 2004.
The Gunners have missed out to Manchester City for the last two seasons in a row and their defeat to the Cherries – coupled with a victory for Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday – has seen them narrowly fall behind in the race for silverware.
Ramsey, who played for Arsenal from 2008 to 2019, has singled out two players for criticism after Bournemouth’s shocking win – Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Welshman feels both men could’ve done more to stop Ryan Christie’s opening goal for Bournemouth as he analysed the strike on Sky Sports.
‘The only issue is the two Arsenal players against their two on the edge [of the box],’ Ramsey said on Monday Night Football. ‘Martinelli’s position needed to be altered a bit.
‘The [space] is too big. It invites the ball to come around for Christie. I would say Havertz as well, he needs to be more on the half-turn. He’s got to be more aware of what is is coming and whether he can get an arm across him or disrupt the run just to put him off balance maybe. Those would be my two things.’
It is still early days in the race for the Premier League title, although Arsenal face a massive test against leaders Liverpool in their next top-flight encounter.
Quizzed on if Arsenal could afford to lose to Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday, Ramsey said: ‘Man City have Southampton next week, you’d expect them to win there.
‘Six points at this stage could be too much to catch them. You need to be six points in front of them.
‘That City team, the way Liverpool are playing. You can’t be too far away from them.’
Ramsey also shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s problem with red cards after William Saliba became the latest Gunner to be dismissed this season.
‘They need to address it, it’s tough enough playing with 11 players,’ Ramsey added. ‘Nothing to worry about but I hope they don’t make the same mistake.’
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