Marseille strike whets Arsenal's Ramsey's appetite
Monday, October 31, 2011
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Aaron Ramsey said that his matchday three winner against Olympique de Marseille "was an important moment" for Arsenal FC as he aims for more goals against the Ligue 1 side.
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Aaron Ramsey hopes to add to his Arsenal FC goal tally after saying his late winner against Olympique de Marseille on UEFA Champions League matchday three has given him a taste for scoring ahead of the visit of the Ligue 1 side on Tuesday night.
Ramsey scored the decisive added-time goal at the Stade Vélodrome, earning his side a 1-0 victory that left the Gunners in a commanding position on top of Group F. Another win against OM would book a round of 16 place. "I think we've always believed we have the quality to challenge anybody," said Ramsey. "That goal was an important moment for us and put us in a strong position in the group. "
Arsène Wenger's charges are in a rich vein of form, a 5-3 victory at Chelsea FC on Saturday stretching their sequence of wins to eight from their last nine games, and according to the Wales captain, the Stamford Bridge success has only served to boost confidence. "It was a massive win for us," he said. "We created lots of opportunities, and took them. It was a big victory for us and we can take a lot out of that game. Saturday showed what we are capable of doing against a top team."
Though Arsenal's Premier League campaign began disappointingly, with four points taken from their opening five matches, the club appear to be back on track, and Ramsey likewise. The 20-year-old has benefited from a regular run in the side, appearing in nine of his side's ten league matches and four European ties, including the play-offs.
Ramsey was a substitute in Marseille, but made a huge impact with his late winner – a moment that has whetted his appetite for more goals. "I like to get into the box," he said. "My target is to get to double figures. It's always a nice feeling when you score a goal."
Yet if his displays have begun to draw comparisons with former captain Cesc Fàbregas, Ramsey has been quick to rule them out. "I think Cesc was a different player," the midfielder said. "He was a great player for this club, but hopefully I can bring my own style to this team and help create opportunities to score myself, and that's what I'm aiming to do."
Wenger, meanwhile, is full of admiration for the way Ramsey has come back after suffering a potentially career-ending leg fracture while playing against Stoke City FC in February 2010. "People forget that Aaron has been one year out when he was just getting into the team. So that he improves now is completely normal; that he gets back to his full physical potential is huge. The worry that we had was that he would get over the injury physiologically but he has got over that hurdle very well and I am very impressed with how he handled it."