Returning to his hometown club Cardiff City, Welsh international Aaron Ramsey was always going to get a good reception.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who is having an incredible season for the Gunners, left Cardiff at the age of 17 to join Arsenal and is finally showing us why they splashed big money to bring the teenager to England’s capital city.
Ramsey is on fire.
The Premier League’s player of the season so far scored twice in Arsenal’s 3-0 win and after he opened the scoring with a glorious header in the first half, the entire stadium rose to their feet and applauded their former hero. Ramsey chose not to celebrate out of respect for Cardiff’s fans and the home supporters appreciated his dazzling performance.
Once again, so did Arsenal’s manager.
“It shows you how much Aaron Ramsey has improved,” Arsene Wenger said. “We came here two or three years ago and he had a nightmare here in a cup game, which shows you how much improved he is as a player. You are always torn between being happy to score and happy you can win the game, but out of respect for the club where he was educated he didn’t celebrate.”
(MORE: Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal: Ramsey haunts old club as Gunners stretch their lead at the top)
Ramsey has been doing a lot of celebrating recently as he now has 13 goals in 20 games for Arsenal and is surely on course to be crowned the PL Player of the Year if he keeps this form going. The energetic midfielder only scored five goals in his entire Arsenal career before this season and has been the North London clubs go-to man throughout their stunning start to the 2013-14 campaign.
With the resounding win against Cardiff on Saturday, the Gunners opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the PL. Manager Wenger believes Arsenal defensive solidity, which has seem them concede just once in their last five league games, is key to staying out in front of the chasing pack.
“It was a very solid defensive performance that was needed against Cardiff,” Wenger said. “When you play first [before your rivals] you can only do your job and see what happens after. But if you do your job well you can relax.”
Feet up Arsene, you can chill tonight. All the pressure is now on Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham tomorrow.
