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This article is part of Football FanCast's Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba's haircuts to League Two relegation battles...

When Aaron Ramsey made his tearful departure from the Emirates towards the end of last season, the big question on everybody's lips was who would be tasked with replacing the Wales international.

Reports had even suggested the Gunners could be looking at options from elsewhere to fill the Ramsey-shaped void, but after enjoying somewhat of a break-through campaign last year, Joe Willock's pre-season performance against Bayern Munich on Thursday certainly raised a few eyebrows.

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The 19-year-old played six times for the first-team last season, and deployed in a more advanced role, notched three goals. Against the Bundesliga champions on Thursday however, Emery dropped Willock deeper, and had him form a midfield two alongside Granit Xhaka.

The duo, particularly in the first-half, were excellent with their work on and off the ball. Willock's athleticism allowed him to cover the ground so easily and effortlessly, and press the opposition into turnovers and mistakes.

The Sun rated his performance 8/10, making him the joint-best performer in the match alongside established stars Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The teenager has now shown he looks comfortable in multiple roles in central midfield; the type of versatility that Ramsey himself was known for.

Whilst the Welshman seemed to thrive playing off the striker though, under Arsene Wenger he was invariably used as a box-to-box midfielder. Willock's engine allows him to do the same, and against Bayern he could be seen making tackles on the edge of his own area before springing to the German side's box to offer support to the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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Despite being up against big-money stars like Thiago Alcantara and Corentin Tolisso in the middle of the park, Willock did not look daunted and arguably helped Arsenal shade the midfield contest in the first-half. As Unai Emery's side seem to have their hands tied with their reported limited budget, having an academy product like Willock could end the need for the club to sign an expensive replacement for Ramsey.

In the few opportunities he has been given under Emery, Willock has undoubtedly taken his chance. Now it's his turn to show why he can be the man to fill the shoes of one of Arsenal's great players of the late Wenger era.