On the 13th of July, young Welshman Aaron Ramsey joined Arsenal in a move worth £4.8 million. He had become the youngest Cardiff City player to play a league game for the Bluebirds and impressed enough during the 2006-2007 season to earn a place in the big time.
Tipped as the biggest player to come out of Wales since Ryan Giggs, Ramsey steadily improved over the next season, benefiting from Wenger’s excellent ability to develop the youth. But during the 2009-10 season it all started to go a little downhill for the Welshman.
In an away match against Stoke a mistimed tackle from Ryan Shawcross, left Ramsey with a double fracture. He had broken his tibia and fibula. He would not play again for nine months.
On his return, he didn’t seem to be quite the same player. He had gone from a player with great vision into a player who had very little consistency in his whole game. Welsh captaincy came and went and his lack of form frustrated Arsenal and Welsh fans alike.
But this season everything seems to have clicked back into place. Goals have flooded in, seven in eight games in all competitions and Arsenal currently sit top of the tree. Put into contrast with last season for example where he scored just one goal in 36 appearances.
With Mesut Ozil arriving, a few people thought that Ramsey may be spending time on the subs bench but with glittering form like this it will be very hard for the manager to drop him.
His form has even improved in a Wales side that quite frankly have not been playing well recently. With the Welsh side so heavily reliant on Gareth Bale and Ramsey, it is an added bonus that the former captain is back to his old self.
If he can keep this form up for the rest of the season and beyond, then get ready for the coming of Aaron Ramsey mark two.
