Arsenal right to stand firm in Aaron Ramsey contract talks, says Ian Wright

Moving on? Manchester United and Liverpool are interested in a January deal for Ramsey
PA
Joe Krishnan10 October 2018

Arsenal were right to withdraw their contract offer to midfielder Aaron Ramsey, according to Gunners legend Ian Wright.

The Wales international looks set to leave the Emirates Stadium in January a decade after arriving as a teenager from Cardiff for £5million.

The 27-year-old has been stalling over signing a new contract and with just eight months remaining on his current deal, he can begin speaking with foreign clubs in January about a Bosman transfer.

While it means that Arsenal face the prospect of losing an important player for nothing, Wright believes the club have taken the right approach after experiencing a similar situation with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Getty Images/Arsenal FC

"I have to stick with Arsenal as they have to make this kind of stance because of the amount of players we've lost in this fashion," Wright told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Of course Arsenal would want him to stay but they must make this stance."

Ramsey scored 11 goals in all competitions in the 2017-18 campaign but has struggled to find the same form this season, and former striker Wright says with the likes of Alex Iwobi coming through, the club can manage without him.

"We've seen him [Ramsey] in the Euros dominating when he was absolutely fantastic, we've seen the season [2013-14] he has with Arsenal scoring 20-plus goals and was amazing, we've seen he can score in big games, winning cup finals.

"But in respect of a consistent performer for the season, making the difference in the league when he's needed? When was the last time he's done that?

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"Are they going to pay the kind of money he probably wants when you've got someone coming through like Iwobi?

"Maybe [Arsenal manager] Unai Emery has seen that."

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