Finally we get back to Premier League action this weekend, and Arsenal and Wales star Aaron Ramsey is an doubt for Saturday’s blockbuster match between Arsenal and Manchester City after picking up an ankle injury on international duty.
Ramsey appeared to twist his ankle late in the game against Andorra, which Wales won 2-1 and was substituted before the final whistle.
Wales boss Chris Coleman said after the game that he was hopeful the problem was not long-term.
“He got a kick and there was a twist in his ankle,” the coach explained. “It was coming to the end of the game, and it was pointless taking a risk with him.
“Hopefully he’ll be OK for Arsenal at the weekend, but we’ll have to see what the next 24 to 48 hours hold.”
On Wednesday, Ramsey was quoted by the BBC as saying:
“I’ll be alright. The pitch was very hard — there’s no give in it — so I rolled my ankle a bit.
“Hopefully it will be nothing, and I’ll be available for Saturday. These are the games you want to play in, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Ramsey has developed into arguably the most important player in the Arsenal side. He scored 16 goals for the Gunners in all competitions last season despite missing a big chunk of the season through injury. It was his goal that was the winner at Wembley in the FA Cup Final last season and Ramsey started the 2014-15 season by scoring Arsenal’s second goal in their 3−0 defeat of Manchester City in the Community Shield on 10 August.
Six days later, in the club’s first league match of the season, at home against Crystal Palace, he scored the winning goal in injury-time to secure a 2−1 comeback victory.