It was a real shame for Arsenal and for our Wales international Aaron Ramsey, when the central midfielder picked up his latest injury during the Gunners’ thumping of Turkish club Galatasaray in the final Champions League group game. Because despite Ramsey having struggled to recapture the brilliant form that he had shown in the previous season, he was finding it and had just scored one of the best goals you will ever see.
Ramsey had also scored in the previous game so it was a massive blow for him to be back in the treatment room. As we know, the 24-year old is fit again and I am sure that Arsene Wenger would love to have a fully firing Rambo in the middle when Arsenal take on Man City later. The problem is, whether he would be fully firing or not.
No doubt the boss is going to be careful not to rush him back and so I have my doubts about him starting at the Etihad stadium in such a big game. If he had played against Stoke City last weekend I would feel differently, but Wenger wanted to give some game time to Ozil and Walcott, who have been out of action for longer than Ramsey and he had already used one sub because of the Debuchy injury.
In other circumstances I think Wenger would start with Ramsey despite the risk that he might not be fully match fit or up to speed, but at the minute he has the option of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the young England international has been in fine form, although mainly in a wide forward role. But with Giroud, Alexis and Walcott, Arsenal are well covered in attack.
I would go with the Ox in the middle against Man City, not just because of his fitness and form, but because his pace, power and work rate could be just what we need to stop Man City’s own midfielders getting at our defence. Do you agree Gooners?