That, or perhaps a placed AoE which works pretty much like Mesmers “Temporal Curtain” with the “Into The Void” thing.
I could totally see Gust being a Ground targeted burst of air in the shape of a tornado or something that pulls in enemies… then you could be able to drag back things into a Eruption/Ice Spike you prepared but the target escaped from..
Staff elementalist’s air attunement is pretty disappointing in it’s current state imo and could do with a overhaul that gives it that “Superior Crowd Control” it’s supposed to have. Dx