Aaron Ramsey puts an end to debate over Alexandre Lacazette assist as he explains his fine Arsenal form

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
James Benge7 December 2017

Aaron Ramsey is convinced his recent upturn in form and fitness will last after enjoying his best start to an Arsenal season since 2013.

The Welsh midfielder, 26, has missed the Arsenal starting XI in only one of their 11 Premier League games – a 2-1 defeat at Waford – and has made a string of telling contributions to the Gunners over recent weeks.

Indeed it is Ramsey, not Mesut Ozil, who leads the Arsenal assist charts with six in the league to the German’s five. He has also weighed in with three goals, more than he managed in the entirety of an injury-plagued 2016-17 season.

Ramsey has been one of many Arsenal players to have benefitted from the club’s participation in the Europa League, though in his case it has perhaps been more due to the week’s rest that Wenger has been able to hand him and other key players.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

For a midfielder who has battled a string of muscular injuries – and whose manager Arsene Wenger has previously suggested struggles to put together a regular run of games – the focus is on ensuring that his fine form continues.

Ramsey told Standard Sport: “I know what I’m capable of doing, I just want to stay fit and healthy and let my football take care of itself.

“I’ve been putting everything out there and hopefully it will continue.

“I have adapted my body to the load of playing in the Premier League and am building up that fitness gradually.

“I’ve felt really good so far and hopefully that’ll continue for a long time now.”

Though the result left Wenger and his team feeling aggrieved, Ramsey was among many players to continue their impressive recent runs of form in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Ramsey provided perhaps the most remarkable instant of a game overloaded with moments of inspiration when he impudently flicked an Alexis Sanchez cross to an unmarked Alexandre Lacazette, who hammered home Arsenal’s goal. Indeed the Welshman’s assist was so delicate and ingenious some suggested it had been an accident.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Ramsey begs to differ.

“I was going to take a touch but out of the corner of my eye I saw De Gea coming out, Lacazette was up there so I just knocked it back to him.

“Hopefully that puts an end to that debate.”

Arsenal Christmas visits - In pictures

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Ramsey was speaking as he and his team-mates visited Stoke Newington Secondary School to bring Christmas cheer to local students. As one of the longest serving members of the Arsenal squad he is well aware of his responsibilities.

“All the players put a lot into their community work,” Ramsey says. “Coming to places like this means a lot to us, we’re very proud to play our part in the local community.

“It’s such a fantastic club in terms of the things it does off the field and I’m very proud to represent Arsenal at these projects.”

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