Wenger enjoying freedom but laments Arsenal’s loss of ‘unique’ star Ramsey
ARSENE Wenger believes losing Aaron Ramsey’s unique qualities in midfield will be a setback for Arsenal.
The Wales international has signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus and will officially join the Turin club on July 1, once his existing deal with the Gunners expires.
The 28-year-old has spent the last 11 years in north Lonthe don — largely under stewardship of Wenger, who signed the midfielder from Cardiff when he was still a teenager in 2008.
Wenger (right) said:
“It will be a loss for Arsenal. I must say it will be an interesting move for Ramsey.
“He is a player who is great going forward. His main quality is he can keep the final ball and he makes interesting runs from deep.
“You don’t find many players today who can make midfield runs off the ball. It will be an interesting addition for Juventus.” Wenger has been out of work since leaving the Emirates Stadium at the end of last season although he continues to be linked with a host of top management positions — including at Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.
The Frenchman said in October that he expected to return to management by the start of this year although he was unable to shed any light on his future on yesterday.
He added: “My future is unknown — even for me. I enjoy daily life now and I have been travelling a lot recently all over the world.
“I am enjoying a little bit less pressure. And more freedom as well. But I miss the competition.”
Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira — two of Wenger’s former players at Arsenal — have had contrasting introductions to European management.
While Henry lasted just three months at Monaco before being replaced recently by his predecessor Leonardo Jardim at the Stade Louis II in January, Viei- ra has steered Nice to seventh in Ligue 1.
Wenger added: “Both have the qualities to be outstanding managers.
“If you arrive in October, and the team is in a very bad position, you have three months. Because in January everybody starts to become nervous that things could go very badly.
“You have less time when you arrive in the middle of the season. That is what happened to Thierry.
“How he bounces back will be very important. I think he has the quality and desire to make a career, and a career is judged on the longer period.” Pastures new: Aaron Ramsey is off to Juventus in summer BRISTOL City boss Lee Johnson described a half-time tunnel incident as “a bit of handbags” following his team’s 1-0 FA Cup defeat against Wolves.
There appeared to be friction and words exchanged between the respective coaching teams as the sides went off at Ashton Gate.
And City’s assistant head coach Jamie McAllister was understood to have been cautioned by referee Martin Atkinson.
“To be fair, they are a fiery bench and we are a fiery bench as well,” Johnson said.
“There was a bit of handbags. To be honest, I don’t actually know what started it. It’s nothing.”
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, meanwhile, said: “Yes, I was aware of it. The referee told us he had a warning.”
Midfielder Ivan Cavaleiro’s first-half finish brought City’s 15-match undefeated run and nine-match winning streak to a halt. The Championship club had their moments, and were far better in the second half, but Wolves deservedly progressed.
Nuno added: “I thought we played really well in the first half, building, creating chances, scoring. The second half, we had to hold on to what we had.
“It is very difficult to defend against such a very good team, and we had to be brave.
“I am very happy because we have achieved something very positive for us. It is a tough stadium to come to and take away something.”
• IN yesterday’s other FA Cup fifth round game, Dan James inspired an amazing second half comeback as Swansea reached the quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over 10-man Brentford.
The Bees controlled the first half to deservedly lead thanks to Ollie Watkins’ 28th-minute strike but Swansea equalised through goalkeeper Luke Daniels’ own goal before James, Bersant Celina and George Byers found their way onto the scoresheet.