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ARSENAL: 'I think the Arsenal fans will really warm to him'

/noticias.info/ Aaron Ramsey has completed his move from Cardiff City to Arsenal. But how much do you know about the exciting 17-year-old midfielder?

We asked Steve Tucker, a football writer for the Western Mail, for a Welsh perspective of the latest addition to Arsène Wenger's squad. Read on to find out more about Ramsey's emergence at Cardiff, his attributes as a footballer and the allure of Arsenal for a young player.

Steve, when did you first hear of Aaron?

"There had been rumblings for many years from those who regularly saw the reserves and youth team football here. I hadn't seen a lot of him in the reserves but I heard good reports that he was regarded as someone special by those in the know. The first time I really saw him was when he became Cardiff's youngest ever player [aged 16 years 124 days], the season before last now, when he came on against Hull for a little cameo. He beat John Toshack's record as Cardiff's youngest player that day.

"It was really last season when he came to prominence with a few brief appearances which gave us a glimpse of what he was capable of. The first thing I thought when he first broke through at the age of 16 was just how comfortable he was at the level he was being asked to play at. He is an incredibly well-balanced player with great poise. The first time I wrote about him, the main observation I made was that, like all class players, he always looked like he had time on the ball."

How quickly did he establish himself in Cardiff's first team?

"It was hard to judge Ramsey on his full debut because they only played Chasetown but, fair play to [Cardiff manager] Dave Jones, he had the courage of his convictions and started playing Ramsey in the Championship too. Results, which hadn't been too clever, started to pick up. Obviously that wasn't just down to Aaron but he slotted in very nicely."

What positions can Ramsey play in?

"The interesting thing is that Dave Jones never played him in his preferred position. Aaron will say he is a central midfielder but Jones played him out on the wing a lot and also at right back, which showed the lad's versatility. Jones said that he didn't feel Ramsey was strong enough to play in the centre of the park yet, although a few people would argue about that. Either way he came in and cemented his place very quickly and never looked uncomfortable at Championship level at all."

Arsenal fans would like to know about Ramsey's attributes. Who would you liken him to?

"He has been compared to Gerrard at Liverpool but I would personally say Bryan Robson in his prime. He is one of those midfielders who can make things happen in the middle of the park. Ramsey is a small figure still, he needs to bulk up, but of course he is only 17. However he is very tenacious, he's not afraid to put his foot in. He will break things up, he will make tackles and win the ball, and then he is very creative using the ball, whether it's just a simple pass, laying it off or having an eye for a through-ball. He is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He has a great eye for a pass, can dribble really well, and I think Arsenal fans are going to warm to him."

Do you think he is ready for the Premier League?

"It's a difficult one but I would love to see him given a chance. Perhaps Arsène Wenger will give him his first chance in the Carling Cup side. Maybe he isn't ready to step into the middle of the Arsenal midfield straight away because not many are at 17. It will take him time to adapt but he is regarded in Wales as the most exciting player to come out of the country since Ryan Giggs."

What is so attractive about joining Arsenal?

"It's on the record that Ramsey and his parents were flown out to Switzerland to meet Wenger. What impressed them the most was Wenger's incredible knowledge of Aaron personally. Of the managers who spoke to him, Ramsey was impressed by the fact that Wenger already knew so much about him, his strengths and weaknesses. Then of course there is Arsene Wenger's record with youngsters, he has an ability to blood youngsters, develop their game and bring them through. Aaron will need work, there is no denying that, he will need the rough edges taking off, but I think Arsenal will find they have a very good player on their hands."

With Ramsey, Gunter and Bale, is this a golden generation for Welsh football?

"That's the big hope. There are big expectations for Ramsey in Wales. The one thing we have lacked for many years is that creative force in midfield, a real holding midfield player with some vision. There are great hopes that Ramsey will fill that role and go on to play a major part for Wales. He hasn't had a senior cap yet - although he travelled to Holland and Iceland recently - but that will soon change. There is no doubt, now he's at a club like Arsenal, that he will be a major player for Wales for years to come."

[ Saturday, June 14, 2008]

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