Judge Arsenal’s title chances after 10 games, says Ramsey
AARON RAMSEY and his Arsenal team-mates are refusing to rise to those critics who have already written them off as Premier League challengers, insisting they will be in the title reckoning come May.
In the space of just three weeks, Arsene Wenger’s side have gone from being championed as a team ready to end their 12-year wait for a top-flight crown to one plagued by the same flaws as seasons past.
On the evidence of Saturday’s laboured win against 10-man Newcastle — settled when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot deflected in off Fabricio Coloccini — it seems the doubters have a point.
Ramsey, however, is convinced the Gunners are ready to find a winning rhythm after a start which has left them five points adrift of league leaders Manchester City.
‘My view on it (the criticism) is look at the table after 10 games and let’s see where we are then,’ said the Wales midfielder when pressed on the comments of Gary Neville, who labelled Wenger ‘arrogant or naive’ for not strengthening his team in areas of need.
‘Hopefully that upset at the beginning of the season (the 2-0 home defeat by West Ham) will be our only one. If we go on a winning run now, and win our next five or six games, we will be there or thereabouts again.
‘We don’t take too much notice of the criticism. We know what we are capable of doing. We know the players we have and it is just important for us to concentrate on that.
‘We have a lot of quality in this squad at the moment and a lot of competition for places as well.
‘I am confident that this squad can go and challenge for the title, this season and for many years to come.’
Wenger talks of only opening the chequebook for an ‘exceptional player’ and still seems blinded by the options available to him.
‘We still do not have Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere available — and they are real players,’ said Wenger in response to a question about incomings.
But after Theo Walcott failed to convince as a central striker here, signing a goalscorer is surely a must for Wenger in the next 24 hours.
One player he will be relieved he did not sign is Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic. The former Anderlecht frontman scored against Arsenal in the Champions League last season and Wenger admits he was on Arsenal’s transfer radar.
The Serbian, who joined Newcastle for £12million this summer, was sent off after just 16 minutes of his full home debut for a stamp on Francis Coquelin.
And Wenger said Mitrovic was a concern for Newcastle: ‘In the Premier League, your commitment is total but you have to play within the rules.’
Newcastle boss Steve McClaren could now turn to psychology guru Steve Black for help with Mitrovic.
‘We’ve got good staff here and we’ll deal with it,’ he said. ‘ It’s something he
(Mitrovic) has to look at. It’s about going out there with fire in your belly and ice in your head. That’s what we want. We don’t want to lose that fire.
‘If we do, the crowd will be down to 20,000. We just need to be a bit more sensible in certain situations.’
Mitrovic’s three-match ban should present a chance for Senegal striker Papiss Cisse but he could leave the club before tomorrow’s deadline after being dropped for the last two matches.
‘I work very hard on the training pitch every day but I don’t know if I’ve done something wrong,’ he said. ‘The decision is for the gaffer to make and I accept that but it’s very hard for me.’
NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-2-3-1): Krul 7; Janmaat 6.5, Mbemba 7.5, Coloccini 7, Haidara 6; Anita 7 (Perez 72min, 6), Colback 7; Sissoko 6 (Cisse 78), Wijnaldum 6.5, Thauvin 6 (De Jong 87); Mitrovic 4. Subs not used: Obertan, Tiote, Darlow, Taylor.
Booked: Sissoko, Mbemba, Thauvin, Anita, Wijnaldum, Coloccini. Sent off: Mitrovic. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Bellerin 6.5, Koscielny 7, Gabriel 6, Monreal 6.5; Coquelin 7, Cazorla 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Arteta 82), Ramsey 6.5, Sanchez 6.5; Walcott 5 (Giroud 69, 6). Subs not used: Debuchy, Gibbs, Ospina, Chambers, Campbell. Scorer: Coloccini 52 og. Booked: Cazorla.
Man of the match: Chancel Mbemba. Referee: Andre Marriner 5.