Girls from the Etihad face woe
ARSENE WENGER wants Aaron Ramsey to be his FA Cup talisman once again in today’s semi-final clash with Manchester City.
Three years ago, it was a strike from the Wales midfielder that secured a 3-2 win over Hull City in the Final – and brought Arsenal their first major trophy since beating Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup Final.
Ramsey’s goal in extratime ended that nine-year drought. It also coincided with a three-year extension to Wenger’s contract at the Emirates.
The deal runs out in June – and there has been continual speculation about whether he will accept the Arsenal board’s offer of two more years in charge.
FA Cup glory again this season could make Wenger’s decision easier – and Rambo will be his go-to man.
After an impressive European Championships with Wales, 26-year-old Ramsey has had a season disrupted by injuries. But in the 2-1 win at Middlesbrough last Monday, he showed he was back to his best, and there is no question how highly Ramsey is rated by his manager.
“He is a Frank Lampardtype player,” said Wenger (above). “He gets in the box and he has a huge TREATMENT ROOM Arsenal:
Man City:
SUSPENDED: ODDS TO WIN Arsenal: Draw: Man City: MANCHESTER CITY’S hopes of a maiden Women’s Champions League Final look lost after they were beaten by Lyon in their semifinal first leg.
World Player Of The Year Carli Lloyd handled in the box on two minutes, allowing Saki Kumagai to fire the French side ahead from the spot.
However, City’s Kosovare Asllani quickly slotted in an equaliser.
But Dzsenifer Marozsan soon put Lyon deservedly back in front.
France striker Eugenie Le Sommer added a third, after the break, to put Lyon in command for the second leg on April 29.
Champions League debutants City, bidding to be the first English women’s team to reach a European final since 2007, almost pulled one back late on, but Abbie Mcmanus’s effort was palmed on to the woodwork.
The French league champions, who have featured in five of the past seven Champions League finals – winning three – could have won in Manchester by an even bigger margin.
City have a mountain to climb in the second leg.