Aaron Ramsey owes a lot to Arsene Wenger, after the Arsenal boss stuck by him when all but the most patient fan was ready for the Welshman to be released. Our central midfielder simply could not find the form that had made him a fan favourite and had persuaded Wenger to sign him from Cardiff in the first place.
Ramsey listened to his boss, who gave him the confidence to keep going through the toughest times when he seemed to earn groans from the Arsenal fans every time he touched the ball, and he came through and found his form in an almost unbelievable way, becoming a goal machine as well as providing the Gunners with the energy and drive we needed from central midfield.
Ramsey has had to listen to Wenger again this season,. as he strove too hard to get back in the goals and his all/round game suffered. As reported by the Daily Express the Wales international was told to relax and play naturally and that has been the key to him getting back on track.
Ramsey said, “[Forcing the issue] was probably what I was guilty of at the beginning of the season where I got off to a good start and then the goals dried up a bit.
“Then I started focusing too much on how to score, putting too much power on the ball when I should have just let it happen naturally. It’s nice when you don’t really think about it too much and just do it.”
But there is also a physical issue with Ramsey and not just because of the ongoing concern about his injury problems. His all-action style requires him to be at full match fitness and so our player knows now that he will not be right back to his best as soon as he returns, but he now has the patience and self-belief to let it happen.
He continued, “Throughout this season I’ve had injuries and it’s taken me a couple of games to get back into it. With my style of play, I like to get up and down the pitch, that’s why it takes me a couple of games to get back into it, to get my fitness up again.
“When I’ve been out for that period of time and getting back into it, it’s quite challenging for me physically and that tires you out in certain things like your decision-making. It’s important for me to get a couple of games in so that I feel I’m ready to go then.”
Now though, as well as a few Arsenal games under his belt, Ramsey has completed a very good game for Wales and is now ready to drive the Gunners on as we enter a crucial and potentially glorious run in to our season.