Can Wilshere and Ramsey replace Fabregas and Nasri?

Stats show that youngsters Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are ready to fill the creative void in Arsenal’s midfield left by the departures of Cesc Fabregas and (soon-to-be-confirmed) Samir Nasri.

With his Catalan captain Fabregas already returned home and French schemer Nasri about to move to Manchester City, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is now looking to Arsenal’s duo of young British midfielders, Wilshere and Ramsey, to provide the Gunners with a new-look creative edge.

Last season, Wilshere, who is currently sidelined by injury, played more minutes in the league than all but two of his Arsenal team-mates, and despite his tender years, he blossomed in a deep-lying midfield role. While he was still short of Fabregas in 2010/11 in terms of goals and assists, he did out-do Nasri in these categories. Wilshire also registered an impressive number of chances created (60) and made more accurate passes, more duels and more interceptions than any of his fellow regular attacking midfielders.

Arsenal Attacking Midfielders in Premier League 2010/11

Only including players to play 900+ minutes

Current Wales captain Aaron Ramsey struggled to make much of an impact last season, as he continued to rehabilitation from that infamous broken leg sustained away at Stoke back in February 2010. However, in his two games this season for the Gunners, the former Cardiff City man has been in impressive form in Fabregas’ playmaker role.

The gifted midfielder provided the assist for Theo Walcott’s early goal against Udinese in the Champions League qualifier, while overall, in Arsenal’s two games combined (away to Newcastle and home to Udinese), he has created a total of six goal-scoring chances, a club-high. Indeed, compared to any of the Gunner’s midfielders and forwards, Ramsey impresses, making 37 accurate passes in the final third of the pitch, as he prompts from an attacking midfield role.

Arsenal Midfielders & Attackers in 2011/12 – Premier Lge & Champions Lge Combined

While Arsenal fans continue to cry out for some top quality, world class replacements for Fabregas and Nasri, in Wilshere and Ramsey, the north Londoners have two gifted and hungry young players who could well kickstart Arsenal’s fortunes this season,