Aaron Ramsey can inspire us to the title, says Arsene Wenger

Horror injury: Aaron Ramsey is comforted by Stoke’s Glenn Whelan after sustaining a double leg fracture
11 April 2012

Arsene Wenger today vowed Arsenal will try to win the Premier League title for stricken midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

The 19-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering fractures to the tibia and fibula of his right leg following a tackle from Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross during Saturday's 3-1 victory at the Britannia Stadium.

Team-mate Eduardo suffered a horrific injury in February 2008 and the Gunners' title bid never recovered but Wenger insists his side have matured and there will not be a repeat.

He said: "We had some other problems two years ago. It will be tight until the end but this group is so strong mentally, and have such unity, that it will give us one more reason to fight until the end and do it for him.

"On Saturday we had a midfield of Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Ramsey, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue. They have an average age of 21.

"Up front, Nicklas Bendtner is 22-years-old. What these guys do at that age is remarkable — to handle the game like they do. But, of course, if you destroy them they will not be football players.

"What is the most terrible thing for me is that a player like Ramsey starts his career with a double fracture operation — you never know what consequences it has on the physical side of the game and the psychological side of the game. It is just scandalous."

Bendtner, Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen scored Arsenal's goals but Wenger could only focus on Shawcross's red-card tackle — hours before his first England call up — branding it "horrendous" and questioning the 22-year-old's integrity.

But Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, who broke his leg on his home debut for the Potters in 2006, insists his team-mate had no malicious intent.

He said: "Ryan is just not that type. He's a big, strong lad but he would never go into a tackle with the intention of hurting anyone.

"I've been there before myself and it looked similar to mine. These things are the hard part of this game.

"The referee appeared to react to the seriousness of the incident rather than the tackle. I said to him 'Did you see it?' He said I don't think he meant it but I've got to send him off.'

"I can't really comment on what Wenger has said. What I do know is that we are not over-physical.

"Aaron Ramsey is a great young talent and we all that hope he comes back from this injury as quickly as possible."

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