Aaron Ramsey performances for Arsenal 'the best we've seen' says Wales manager Chris Coleman

The midfielder has put in some eye catching displays already this season

Andrew Gwilym
Friday 06 September 2013 07:43 EDT
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Aaron Ramsey scored twice to add to his goal in the first leg
Aaron Ramsey scored twice to add to his goal in the first leg (EPA)

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Gareth Bale may be the Welsh player currently making the headlines, but manager Chris Coleman believes midfielder Aaron Ramsey is another man playing at his peak.

The build-up to Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Serbia has been completely overshadowed by Bale's world-record move to Real Madrid, and how much of a part he will play in this international double-header.

But, while the saga of Bale's exit from Tottenham was ongoing, across north London, Ramsey was turning in a string of superb performances.

The 22-year-old midfielder has scored three goals in his last five games and picked up two man-of-the-match awards, and is set to feature for Coleman's men in Skopje on Friday despite nursing a groin problem.

The Wales boss believes the former Cardiff player is now producing the best form of his career.

He said: "Aaron has been brilliant. He is showing now what we all thought he was capable of with his performances. He's been superb for Arsenal this season.

"All that has happened is he has taken time and games to get stronger and get that fluidity back in his play.

"He's got a spring in his step and is confident. He's doing things at both ends of the pitch. He's defending well, positionally he is much better and he's linking the play up in the last third.

"This is his best form and he's playing his best football. Even before he had the injury.

"This is the best we've seen from him."

Coleman also believes his man has nothing to fear from the arrival of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid to add to a highly-competitive Arsenal midfield.

He said: "All Aaron has to do is keep doing what he has been doing.

"Ozil is a great player, but if Aaron keeps playing like he is, then I don't think it will be Aaron Ramsey losing his place.

"I'm not the Arsenal manager and it's not up to me. It's up to Arsene Wenger and he's a quality manager.

"But if Aaron keeps doing what he has been doing then I can't see him losing his place."

Coleman admitted he felt it had taken Ramsey time to get over his horrific leg break at Stoke in February 2010, while the former Wales captain was also heavily affected by the death of then-Dragons boss Gary Speed.

But Coleman has praised the mental strength shown by the midfielder.

"I've had serious injuries myself as a player," said Coleman, whose own playing career was ended after he suffered serious leg injuries in a car crash in 2001.

"People talk about the physical part, which is important as you have to get the agility, but mentally it is tough. It's hard.

"It's taken him time, but you have to look at him during pre-season and the start of the season and take your hat off to him and say he's got himself back in that position where he's playing the football we all thought he was capable of.

"He's looks fantastic."

PA

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