Just Arsenal News

With the glut of injuries at the Emirates this season, Aaron Ramsey has been given his big chance to prove that he could fit easily into the Arsenal first team, and he has capped a run of eight straight games with a brilliant goal against Portsmouth last week.

Manager Arsene Wenger believes that the young Welshman can be an influential figure for the Gunners for a long time, and he thinks he can play alongside Abou Diaby and Cesc Fabregas in his new attacking formation.

“Abou has a huge presence on the pitch and has the potential to be an influential part of Arsenal for many years,” said Wenger. “I highly believe that Aaron Ramsey will be a big player and a big Arsenal player. He’s an all-rounder. I believe he can play with Cesc.

“I always think the big players can always play together as long as they put the game in front, as long as they respect the game. What they have in common, when they’re on the pitch, is the personality to say, ‘I’m not scared to play. I’m here to play the game.’ ”

With Fabregas, Denilson and Walcott out for at least the next two games, and Song’s absence at the African Nations Cup, Ramsey has got the chance to consolidate his position in the first team even further, and he believes that he has improved considerably since arriving from Cardiff.

“Since coming to Arsenal I think I’ve improved as a player, obviously through training with world-class players every day and getting opportunities to play,” Ramsey said. “I think I can still improve on some aspects of my game and, hopefully, I can use this opportunity now to really show what I can do.”

“Obviously, I feel more comfortable attacking, getting forward, getting into the box, but I’ve played that holding role against Wolves, I’ve played the holding role for Wales, so I’m more than confident playing there and think I can do a job there,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could fill those positions. It could be a big month, there have been injuries. I want to establish myself as a first-team player in the starting eleven, hopefully with opportunities I can show that I’m more than capable of playing in the Arsenal starting eleven.”

Ramsey has already shown that he has the ability, but now he has the chance to show his consistency at the highest level.