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Former Arsenal defender Paul Merson has criticised the Gunners for their stance concerning Aaron Ramsey's future, speaking to TalkSPORT

What's the word?

Unai Emery's arrival at Arsenal has led to major changes in the club's fortunes, with the Gunners winning their last nine matches in all competitions, but a controversial piece of business looks set to take place next year.

Arsenal have withdrawn their offer of a contract extension to Wales international Aaron Ramsey, leaving the 27-year-old extremely likely to leave the Emirates Stadium either in January or when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

That decision has been blasted by former Gunners defender Paul Merson, who told TalkSPORT it would be 'typical' of Arsenal to lose another quality player after allowing him to run down his contract.

What was said?

"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."

Is he right?

Ramsey has been a dedicated servant to Arsenal in the past ten years but the finer moments of his performances, which include two FA Cup final-winning goals, have glossed other an extended period of inconsistency.

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The Wales international has never managed to hit double-figures for goals or assists in the Premier League during his decade at the club and has missed 29 league matches during the past two seasons - which is not good enough for a player chasing a lucrative deal.

Emery's set-up calls for a more creative player to slot into the midfield and Ramsey doesn't quite fill that position, especially with Mesut Ozil in the ranks, and certainly seems to be expendable despite the fact he could come back to haunt Arsenal if he joins another Premier League side.