V MAN CITY MESSI Wenger: Aaron’s my AA-star man

ARSENE WENGER is once more looking to Aaron Ramsey to be his FA Cup talisman ahead of today’s semifinal clash at Wembley. Three years ago, it was a strike from the Wales midfield star that clinched a 3-2 win over Hull in the final – and brought Arsenal their first major trophy for nine years. Wenger’s deal runs out in June and there has been ongoing speculation about whether he will accept an offer from the Arsenal board of two more years in charge. FA Cup glory would make his decision easier – and Ramsey, 26, could well be his go-to man, despite a season disrupted by niggling injuries. In the 2-1 win at Middlesbrough last Monday, Ramsey (left) showed he was back to his best – and there is no question how highly he is rated by his manager. “He is a Frank Lampard-type player,” said Wenger. “He gets in the box and he has a huge capacity to run. Certainly, physically, he has a combination of stamina and power. One of the best in the league. “It has been a very frustrating season for Aaron. I looked the other day and he has started just seven or eight games in the Premier League. When I realised that, it was unbelievable. Why ? Injuries, injuries, injuries, injuries – and not big ones. Niggling ones and when he came back – boom... a little calf. Then boom... a little hamstring.

“He looked fit on Monday and I hope he will have a strong end to the season because he is an important player for me. At the start of the season, you count on Santi Cazorla and Ramsey to be important players.

“You come to the end of the season, and you have no Cazorla since October and Ramsey has played less than 10 league games. Unbelievable.”

Wenger then outlined just why Ramsey is such an asset. “He has it all in his locker to be defensive and offensive,” he said. “That is for me a vital part of the game we want to play.

“We do not want only to defend – we want to defend and attack.

“So these kind of players are very important. He is at the best age for a midfielder. And he can take the role of Mesut Ozil. When Ozil needs a breather, you can play Aaron there.”

Another player to excel on Teesside was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who according to Wenger is beginning to blossom and has a key role to play in the future of the club. The Frenchman said: “He looks like he is on an upward curve. He has had little problems but now he is getting stability and more freedom to play.

“Before he was a little bit inhibited and now he plays with ‘I’m a player ‘ – and you feel that when he takes the ball. I want Alex to be part of Arsenal Football Club for the next 10 years.”