Although it has seemed at times this season that Arsenal just cannot catch a break, especially with the injury situation, sometimes things have gone right for the Gunners. And I think you can put the return to full match sharpness of Aaron Ramsey in that category.
The news about Jack Wilshere damaging his ankle ligaments and perhaps facing surgery and a three month lay off is a real blow for Arsenal, but it would have been much worse if we did not have the young Wales international to step in. But we really need the Ramsey of last season back again, not just for his goals but for his all round game.
And that is what we have according to the player himself. In an Arsenal.com report Ramsey explains the reason why Arsenal fans have not seen the best of him so far this season. The central midfielder feels that his game has suffered because of his fitness levels, which have not allowed him to cover the ground as much and so he has not been able to recover quickly enough after making the bursts forward that mark his game.
Ramsey also said that his fitness is now at the level it used to be and so he believes that Arsenal fans will now start to see the benefit of that, starting with the visit of Borussia Dortmund tonight, and not a minute too soon. The 23-year old has also taken on board what Arsene Wenger said about him trying too hard to score and he vows that he will just let that come back into his game naturally instead of forcing it.
Ramsey said, “Maybe at the beginning, yes [I was trying too hard to score]. Now I’ve put that to the back of my mind and I’m focusing on other things. That will come naturally again.
“I still believe in my qualities, and I’m confident that I can show them again this year. There will be plenty more opportunities.
“I had a hamstring injury and it takes a few games to get back to your best. In the last game it was the first time in a long time that I felt sharp again and felt like I was physically there. Hopefully I can continue that and have a very successful season.
“I’m still going to make my runs into the box. That’s my game. I also can get back and defend, and that’s what I mean by saying that’s the best I’ve felt [in a while against Manchester United]. When I got forward, I could get back in time as well.
“It was very frustrating afterwards because we felt like we played a good game and had plenty of opportunities to score. On another day they may have gone in, but I think it is important not to get too down about that.
“We played well and we have to continue to play in the way we believe we should. We are looking forward to the game against Dortmund now.”
If Ramsey really is getting back to his best then maybe the rest of us can start looking forward to games as well, but I for one am not there yet. How about you guys?