Recently, I wrote about the potential new signing, Aaron Ramsey, after we had been tipped favourites to sign him.
Last week, Cardiff boss, Dave Jones, spoke in favour of United signing their talented young player. “We have no doubts whatsoever that Aaron could make the grade at somewhere like Manchester United,” he said. “We would not let him go there if we had any doubts. United are the major force in European football, if not the best club in the world, and with the squad of players they have that domination is set to continue for some time to come. I believe Aaron can go there and play a valuable part in that in the future.”
However, it has today been announced that the Welsh lad is turning us, the English and European Champions, down, for a move to the Emirates instead. Why?
“Cardiff City were informed on Friday morning that Aaron Ramsey’s preferred destination this summer is at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal,” read a statement on Cardiff’s official website. “We will now continue the dialogue with the Gunners with a view to Aaron’s move being completed. The move unlike other options, however, does not include a loan back period at Ninian Park for the 2008/09 season.”
Doesn’t Want To Return To Cardiff
United tried to sweeten the deal by giving Cardiff an option of keeping Ramsey on loan for the duration of next season. This would be a perfect solution for both clubs. Cardiff would get to keep their player, whilst not paying his wages, and United would get to see Ramsey playing regular football. This would be ideal.
However, this agreement does not take in to consideration the feelings of Ramsey. If the loan option was written in to his contract, then he would have little choice but to remain in Cardiff. This doesn’t sound too bad, but if Ramsey is really keen to get away from Wales and come to the Premiership, then he is being put in a compromising situation. To turn down the loan move would mean the club and fans who have been investing all their time in him would know he’d turned down the chance to play for them one more season.
Arsenal did not include an option to have him loaned back to Cardiff, meaning Ramsey’s decision is made for him. He was probably lead to believe that this means he’ll be playing a substantial enough part in Arsenal’s season to not need a loan period away.
Playing Time
Wenger has obviously made Ramsey aware of the comparative size of the squads. With a first XI yet to be decided upon at United, the likes of Hargreaves, Carrick, Park, Nani and Anderson can be found on our bench, with competition for the first team so fierce. In contract, if we look at Arsenal’s visit to Old Trafford in April, Theo Walcott was the best of the bench, joining Nicklas Bendtner, Justin Hoyte, Lukasz Fabianski and Johan Djourou. The full squads are leagues apart, and Ramsey will believe he will have a much better chance of making the first team at Arsenal over United. And he’s probably right.
However, it is important to note that Theo Walcott, who has two years in age on Ramsey, as well as almost three seasons at the club already, played in just 39 of Arsenal’s 58 matches last season (67% of the possible playing time). He started 11 out of 38 Premiership games and just 20 games overall, (which includes several League Cup appearances, which is a Cup Wenger gives to the second team). Walcott has now been at Arsenal for two and a half years, yet rarely gets to start. In contrast, at United, 20-year-old Nani in his first season at Old Trafford played in 40 of United’s 56 matches last season (71% of the possible playing time).
“If they are good enough, they are old enough,” said Sir Matt Busby, which is still the way we do business. If Ramsey feels he’s got a better chance of breaking through the ranks at Arsenal, then so be it. I personally would prefer a player who had the confidence in themselves to get to the top regardless of their age or the competition.
Expectation At United Too High
Last week, Eric Harrison, who brought the “kids” of the 90s through the ranks, gave Ramsey a warning of what would be expected of him if he was to sign for United. “He will have to have a top class attitude, show 200 per cent commitment and be thinking Man Utd 24 hours a day,” he said. “I know all that sounds corny but that’s the levels needed if you want to succeed there, because if he gets carried away he’s got no chance. All the boring stuff that you don’t hear about these top players in the newspapers, the hard work, the training, all the right things, that’s what’s required to give you any hope of making it there. If he goes to United and his attitude is right, then he will have the chance of a fantastic career as part of a great team. But knowing the club as I do, everything has to go in his favour for it to happen. Being signed for all that money is all well and good, but not only have you got to impress the manager and the staff, the hardest thing is impressing the other players because they will quickly suss if he’s not up to it. You’ve got to go there and show you’re worth your place – and that’s not easy.”
It is possible that 17-year-old Ramsey doesn’t feel ready for this sort of pressure yet. United are the biggest club in the World and have just won the best two trophies going. In contrast, Arsenal have had yet another disappointing, trophyless season, despite leading the table for much of 2007-2008. He won’t feel the same pressure and need for results at Arsenal as he would at United. The fact that Wenger is sitting comfortably in his position after four years without winning the title and three years without winning anything clearly shows the difference in pressure and expectation between the clubs.
Essentially, if Ramsey doesn’t want to play for United, that’s his look out. If being shown around Carrington last Friday by captain Gary Neville and if joining the team of his idol, Ryan Giggs, isn’t enough for him, then we certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it.
I do wonder though how easy Ramsey will be sleeping in years to come when reflecting on this life changing decision.
Man Utd News 24/7
maybe its cos arsenal flew him to switzerland for talks with wenger and utd gave him a day with gary neville.
Like u say, he must feel he has a better chance of playing at Arsenal and possibly wants to be closer to his two young Welsh compatriots at Spurs. I am disappointed that we look to be missing out on a talent but we must respect the decision of the player. There are always other options. This could grudgingly be applied to a certain current United player.
As an Arsenal fan I was surprised he chose us, it seemed a done deal to United. The lad has alot of potential and I hope he can fulfil it with us, like a certain Welsh player that has graced your side for the last 17 years or so. Facts are though he has more chance of Playing with us than Man Utd, so I can understand his decision.
may be it was the fact that sir alex would only speak on the phone to him, and send him on a tour with phil neville lol should of sent giggs the boys idol
I’d agree with what’s been said, he probably wants to be in London like the Welsh squad friends he has.
Also, if I were him I’d be more confident of getting onto the wings at Arsenal, with the crock Rosicky, possible want-away Hleb, and Walcott as competition. Compared to Ronaldo, Giggs, Nani, and even Hargreaves, the better option has to be Arsenal.
If you sign for a new club, who the hell wants to stay at their old club for another year?
There are two things that for me stand out. First that Utd wanted o loan Ramsey out too Cardiff, something that Ramsey may not have wanted and Wengers personal intervention by flying Ramsey and his family out too Switzerland for face to face talks, This is something he has done before notebly with H Northveit the young Norweigan defender when Wenger cut short his holidays to fly to Norway and talk to the player and his family and therefore snatcing him away from Utd.
I’m disappointed in his decision, just like I was disappointed in Gareth Bale’s decision to sign with Spurs.
I was not, however, disappointed in the play/promise of Anderson and Nani so maybe Ramsey wasn’t up for the challenge.
I’m actually gutted because he is top quality. Very-balanced on the ball – not your usual British Isles player. If Ronaldo does go, which is very possible, he would have been a good addition to the wing.
However, Ramsey looks more a composed winger who will come central, typical arsenal, whereas the boss likes his wingers to be pacy and always attack by going outside the full-back and not come centrally.
His loss, but I like the way you make it sound like he’s made a mistake and was scared of the challenge
He is awfully young and inexperienced to be expecting first team runouts with Arsenal. I fear he will be disappointed in London. I’m bothered that we didn’t land him (perhaps we didn’t make enough of an effort? as Wenger flew him to Switzerland for a chat and reportedly at Old Trafford, he made do with a tour with Gazza?) On the other hand, did we really need him? Probably not enough to get really bothered about it.
You’ll see why he chose Arsenal next season! You really are quite arrogant if you think your club has more appeal to a young player than The Arsenal!
How refreshing – a balanced and fair point from the poster above!! Personally I am pleased that Ramsey has decided to join Arsenal and I believe it will give him more chance to play regular 1st team football.
He probably didn’t want to sign for a club in dire financial straights who are about to lose their best player.
Can’t blame the lad.
As an Arsenal fan, I thought you had him in the bag, especially with him being a Man Utd fan and his idol is Giggs.
I think it is a combination of things. 1st Team football, Wengers reputation at bringing on youth, his mates at the Spuds, and I just wonder how he felt that Sir Alex did not meet him personally. I heard Gary Neville met him instead and I wonder if Ramsey took this as a bit of an insult and that was the defining moment.
Wenger flying him out is similar to what he did with our young CB Nordveitt last Summer.
Well Written Football blog by the way
Arsenal under Wenger are just a more attractive club all around, and Ramsey is intelligent enough to realise that. That more then anything tells me he will be a success.
As for the squad, you are vastly underestimating Arsenals quality or overestimating your own.
The bench last season included Eduardo,Eboue,Walcott,Bendtner,Diaby,Denilson, Gilberto,Song,Senderos and Lehman.
Thats real quality. But most of them were in the first team because of injuries to Rosicky,Eduardo,RVP and the ACON. Next season Arsenal will add Nasri,Vela,Ramsey and another defender like Zapata.
The future is Arsenal, whether you like it or not.
Pretty balanced piece. Couple of other points, he didn’t get any face time with Fergie whereas Arsenal flew him to Switzerland, which makes it look as though we wanted him more.
Also i have read that Ramsey plays Arsenal style football, i know the styles aren’t dissimilar but apparently Ramsey will fit in perfectly with Arsenal’s collective game.
Will be an interesting Summer ahead for both clubs….
Probably becuse he knew how lucky you were last season with your 1 man team….(no im not joking!!!)…check the facts…
He is a huge talent and he has chosen right!
I think you are a bit wide of the mark.
Being an Arsenal fan, i would say we won the race, because we focused on the player and not Cardiff.
Wenger gave him the personal touch.
The squad sizes and qualities are not that far apart. The example you gave regarding the bench was when, Arsenal had 6 or 7 players out
He will play more at Arsenal. United already have a big squad and are not adverse to paying £15million or more on a squad player (Nani, Anderson, Hargraves etc).
On top of that he may simply feel that Wenger is a better manager for him at this current stage of his development??
It’s probably more to do with the fact that SAF didn’t want to meet him and that Wenger made a point of speaking to him face to face.
He’ll know full well that he won’t play in Arsenal’s first team for a few seasons yet, but he might get a run out in the Carling Cup next year.
Sorry mate but this smacks of bitterness. Perhaps he wanted to move to the capital, perhaps he believed Arsenal can help him progress. Maybe he liked Arsenal’s style of play over yours. To say he wont be under the same pressure to win trophies at us is frankly pathetic!
Perhaps attitude and arrogance have something to do with it.
The fact that Utd put on their website that he had signed for them when he obviously hadnt. Also this morning there was the headline Ramsey snubs Utd on the website.
I guess you will have to wait and see what Aaron has to say about it. However in the meantime please dont slag the kid off (check Manchester evening echo) he made his choice so live with it
Just thought I’d say something on young Theo (future of Arsenal & England respectively!)
He has been used in an unfamiliar wide right position, something he found tricky at first to come to terms with. however, from about February on he has blossomed in that role and will be 1st choice right winger next season, replacing the useless Eboue!
As for Ramsey; He WILL get more chances at Arsenal to play, whther thats in the carling cup or not, i have no idea? I also have no idea if he is any good!
I really wouldnt make too much of it, although as a bitter gooner (living in mancunia!) it was kinda funny to see him trumpeted as a United player!
laters fellas.
Location!
He’s wants the bright lights and big city of London. Not to say Manchester isn’t any good but he ultimately he prefers a move London.
It’s the rumours about Ronny. Apprently he loves the club but hates Manchester…
Your article clearly states what I think of his decision. While there is no doubt that Arsenal have a high quality system in place, Ramsey’s decision seems like a case of choosing a club where it’ll be easier to get into the first XI. Its sad that rather than challenging himself, he’s chosen this path. At the same time, he might have seen what happened to the likes of Rossi, Pique, Evans etc. who were highly rated but never made the cut at United.
The website announced that United had agreed a fee with Cardiff which was true. However, manutd.com NEVER said Ramsey had already signed; they stressed that personal terms were yet to be agreed and that other clubs were in the race.
Maybe ….just maybe he considers Arsenal and AW as a better bet for the next 5yrs of his career than Man Utd and AF. Had AFC won at Old Trafford they would have been champions.
Announcing a signing on the main website really was a stroke.
P.S your point on Nani’s playing time in comparison to walcott is ridiculous. 39/58 – 40/56 ???
By all accounts he’s a quiet, unassuming albeit confident and very intelligent lad. Hence it is quite possible that United’s arrogance (including infering that the deal was as good as done on the club website) put him off. In the same way that Walcott rejected Chelsea for Arsenal, Ramsey clearly believes that his personal development will be best handled under Wenger at Arsenal.
Why see it as a snub? It was simply a choice. But again, a lot of people associated with United are so full of their own importance that they cant imagine players looking elsewhere….
May be he is seeing the way C ronaldo is being treated and had second thoughts United think every1 wants to play for them lol errrrrr no!!!!!!!
Zae: they did not stress that personal terms were yet to be agreed. The implication was that personal terms were a mere formality and that Ramsey had agreed in principal to joining.
That is arrogance if you ask me.
Ha ha silly gooners. Dire financial straits? Funny comment that about a club noted richest in the world. But surely it must look a pretty dodgy choice – signing for the biggest club in the world who just won the double.
Arsenal we’re better than you. I know it’s hard to swallow, but United are better than every other club in the Prem..
you gooners forget, you have to actually WIN something to be considered the kind of great you fancy yourselves.
could it be that he feels he will get a better tuition under wenger than fergy?
And as the 1st teams are pretty much on a par he will have the same challenges of getting into either of them!
But them im an arsenal fan and welsh so glad that he will go to Arsenal if its true that is!!!
Arsenal offered more CASH than United and met Cardiff valuations while Man Utd affered lower than that with the rest covered the year in loans
Aaron’s teammate personally said that he was an Arsenal-type player. While we Gooners respect that you were the better team over the full season, Arsenal’s football (without the end result) is every bit as good to watch.
Not only that, but as your quote above suggests, there are two approaches to the end result: Ferguson takes the pressure (tea cup throwing) approach and Wenger prefers a happy team that love their game. Almost the same end result, different environment – personally I’d prefer the latter if I was Ramsey.
How can Arsenal fans think that there is the same pressure at your club as there is at ours to win things?
You think Fergie would still have a job if he hadn’t won ANYTHING for three years? Course he wouldn’t. Wenger, on the other hand, gets promised a job for life lol.
If you’ve just won everything, where is the challenge?? Whats the point of going to the club on the top, there is no sporting challenge left.
I think Ramsey is looking to the future, and he wants to establish himself with a club heading in the right direction. His parents were a major influence on his decision and I wouldn’t be surprised if the looked at the bigger picture and chose the club with a stable financial future and the best crop of young players in World football.
This decision isn’t about the next year, or even the next 3 seasons. The lad is 17 years old and by the time he turns twenty, English football will look very different from how it appears today.
The financial pinch will hit United hard with the enormous debt and loan repayments, and Ramsey has chosen to position himself with the club and who have a solid financial base and one who have been investing in finest young talent for a number of years.
Arsenal do not cherry pick the proven stars – a situation which simply won’t be possible in a few years for Manchester United – they create stars of their own. Right now they have a core of 8 or 9 under 18 year olds who have been playing together in the “Arsenal way” for years and a re ready to explode on to the scene. The same simply isn’t true of United’s meager talents within their youth and reserve set up.
Whilst the current first team squads are incomparable in United’s favour the next few years will show why Arsenal’s policy to invest in youth and not saddle themselves with debt was the correct decision, and Ramsey will be part of that movement.
Surprised by his decision but if he does turn out to be any good, I can’t honestly see him breaking into their first team any quicker than he would at United. Fergie’s a much more astute manager and knows exactly when the time is right to blood his youngsters, Wenger on the other hand keeps them wrapped in cotton wool so long its a wonder they dont pass their sell by date.
The fact that you have written a whole article about it clearly shows you are losing sleep over it. Why are you trying to make excuses for his decision not to join Utd? As far as I can see he had ample time to decide, and was given adequate exposure to both clubs. He obviously chose Arsenal for the style of play, their future potential and Wenger’s famous ability to ensure all his youngsters have a good future in football (whether at Arsenal or not). If anything the expectation on him will be higher with Arsenal’s reputation of producing the highest standard of young talent in world football. He is clearly a good player given both clubs had tussled for his signature. You need to accept the fact that he preferred Arsenal for positive reasons (not negative reasons such as ‘too much pressure at utd’ ‘couldn’t get into the first team’).
Yh but after you lot winning everything it aint enough to hold onto ur best player dont worry im sure he will be happy in the white of real next season thats if fergie and those dodgy americans u got at the helm dont try and stop him leaving like a jilted lover lol!!!!
Ramsey decided to sign for arsenal cause playing for such big team like united has it drawbacks. Ronaldo saga shows the pressure to perform at such level. I Feel even after winning champion league is stil not enough cause the club is heavily in debt. Let see how what happen about ronaldo cause he is one player who single handedly carried the team when it looked all dark.
let’s see.. arsenal current team:
almunia, sagna, toure, gallas, clichy, hleb, fabregas, gilberto, rosicky, van persie, adebayor.
bench: fabianski, eduardo, diaby, walcott, senderos, djourou, song, eboue, bendtner, denilson.
i doubt ramsey will be able to get on the bench very much even with those players. maybe carling cup.
Or perhaps it is that Ramsey wishes to be part of the “golden generation” of young, technical players coming through at Arsenal, which, I hope, will soon be compared with the Ajax team of the 70′s (and maybe might stay together a little longer).
Fergie has said that he is definitely retiring in three years time. Your deal meant he would go back on loan for a year so now he’s left with two years with fergie and that’s if he goes straight into the first team when he comes back which I doubt. So in all reality it would be a year in the first team then a new manager coming in which is not a straight forward thing by any means espically replacing fergie. Who’s to say the new manager would want him or play him. I think he made the most reassuring choice.
This situation also reminds me of the Ronaldinho transfer, when Barcelona pointed out that ManU had not shown the right respect for the player during the transfer.
How many of Nani’s 40 games de he start? And which of these were cupgames etc..?
Re. Ferguson not being there if United didnt win anything for three years:
“Things did not improve during the rest of the 1989, and in November a banner declaring “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap. Ta ra Fergie.” was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked”
To be fair to Arsenal, they do have a reputation of letting youngsters run the show. Fabregas joined Arsenal when he was 16 and can now claim to be the best in his position in the world at 20 years of age.
But Ramsey’s decision still puzzles me. Would you rather share a future with Fabregas, Adebayor, van Persie and Walcott or Anderson, Nani, Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez? Would you rather learn from Gallas, Gilberto Silva, Hleb and Rosicky or Giggs, Scholes, Neville, van der Sar, Hargreaves and Carrick? Everything points to United favourably but I wouldn’t be surprised if Wenger made false promises to Ramsey just like he did to Diarra. And then Ramsey’s precious talent will be unused and sold off to a mid-table club in a few years.
Personally, I’d be honoured just to know that Sir Alex thought I, a 17 year old, was good enough for United but Ramsey seems to feel that being just another of Arsenal’s kids playing on a wet Wednesday night in the Carling Cup is more attractive than following in the footsteps of the best his country has ever produced: Giggs.
Arsenal have had a better model for bringing through youngsters in the first team than Manchester United in recent years. Toure, Flamini, Fabregas, Fabianski, Bendtner, Walcott, Cashley Cole, Clichy to name a few who have been given opportunities ahead of time. In terms of Manchester Utd, apart from Anderson and Nani last year, I havent seen anyone coming through the ranks. Arguably, even though they are young, they were already established in their previous teams. Sure you had people like Beckham, Scholes, Brown etc who came in during the 90s. But recently, the trend has been more about capturing established players.
Latest on Ramsey
Cardiff City winger Aaron Ramsey has told the club he will accept the contract offered to to him by Arsenal, with the move expected to be completed in the next two days, after both teams have concluded negotiations.
Steve Rowley and Ken Friar met the prospect in London on Friday, where terms were agreed for his transfer, before the Gunners arranged for him and his family to be flown first class to Switzerland to see Arsene Wenger. Whilst there Wenger took time out to answer Aaron concerns, as well assure him he would not be loaned out and his development would be best served in his capable hands.
He will now travel to the Shenley based training centre to undergo a medical examination, before penning terms on a five year contract, once both clubs have finalised the deal. Cardiff have confirmed they will not be taking the player back on loan, but were happy with the financial package which see’s Ramsey join the Gunners for £5 million.
“Aaron did me the courtesy of ringing me to let me know his position,” said Chairman Peter Ridsdale. “It’s a £5m deal – and on a straight cash basis it was the best option on the table.
“We knew he had talent and clearly Premiership clubs knew there was a talent there. Aaron’s still very young and from our perspective it was far better not to lose him or still have him on loan. But that’s not to be, the lad’s made his decision.”
Manchester United and Everton also had offers accepted for his transfer, but he turned down the chance to join Everton, leaving just United and Arsenal in the running. United sent Gary Neville to try and tempt the youngster, but the Ramsey family wanted to meet senior management staff to discuss the deal, however it seems they did not take the player seriously enough, and now Wenger has jumped the Que.
So it seems Man Utd took for granted his potential signing, and Arsenal treated the player with respect throughout and have suitably impressed.
well this article is about Ramsey choosing Arsenal over Man U not about who is better, however given the kids gloves that Man U are treated with it is really no surprise u won the double!
Anyway, maybe it was the treatment he recieved from Wenger that was the decidinf factor. The fact that Fergie did not see him personally and Arsenal flew him over on a PRIVATE jet!!! dont you think that made a great impression? do you not think his parents were impressed? to say he choose arsenal just because of less compettion is absurd and trying to read the youths mind which is a bit disrespectful as it seemed that he was keen to join you lot before he met Arsene, well at least thats what u guys said. How many players still want to go to Chelsea even after they see a player like SWP barely playing?
Have you guys forgotten that you just won the double and that a player would more want to join the winning side? Maybe this guy is just consciencious and can see that there is something special brewing!
“DONT BE HATING!”
He met with Gary Neville at the training ground.
Then, Arsenal flew him and his family out by private jet to meet with Wenger in Switzerland.
Talk about feeling wanted – it must have been an easy decision.
Everything that can be won, has been won by Utd. To win with Utd would be just another win. To win something with Arsenal, against the odds, and to have a chance to go down in football history doing something unique in the clubs history (ie win the Champions League), represents a far greater challenge. He chose to fight the good fight rather than ride the big easy wave. Speaks volumes about the guy’s personallity if you ask me.
heard a while ago aaron wasn’t keen to go on loan, and though he’d have liked to work with giggs – the choice was arsenal and a little later everton.
I think your point about choosing Arsenal because its less pressure is sour grapes really. Of course playing for Arsenal will heap pressure on it, great players have to learn to handle that, I don’t think he would turn down an opportunity at man utd thinking they are too big for him!?
If you had 3 job offers you would pick the best, not back out because one was ‘too high pressured’. Anyway I think Ramsay was in the bag for Utd until they forced him and his family to spend a day with chuckle brother 1.
Is it just possible that he trusts Wenger more than ferguson, that Arsenal impressed him more than Man U and that he sees the sense in the way Walcott has developped. You cite Nani as someone who played in a lot if games, that was good in the short term for Man united, not neccessarily good in the long term for the player, see where he is in two or three years. Walcott on the other hand has been shown patience and allowed to develop at his own pace and turn into a world class player. Young players and their families trust Wenger because the ones who are good have a team built around them and the ones who don’t make it are given an apprenticeship that allows them to build a succesful career elsewhere (Bentley, Pennant, Muamba, Larsson, Upson, Cole (just kidding), Stokes, Molz, Alladiere etc). No other club can claim the same.
And to think your club’s official website stated that he had already signed. The arrogance is unbelievable.
In all fairness, comparing Nani to Walcott isn’t such as smart move really. Nani has had experience in lisbon that Theo simply hasn’t had. Both are undoubtedly exceptional players and likely to get better, but placing one player into an older side is easier than placing one into a young side – too many inexperienced players can result in costly mistakes. Ramsey has picked Arsenal it seems, because they showed more interest in him, Wenger actually made a point of meeting him and perhaps this gave Ramsey the feeling he was wanted by Arsenal. After all, they do have a good reputation for developing young players whereas utd are more noted for spending blockbusting amounts of money on squad players such as carrick anderson and nani. You speak about the expectations of both clubs but you would be wrong to say Arsenal’s are lower. It is simply their current budget and managers preference for value that gives this false impression. Also considering the amount of debt and interest repayments reportedly near 100m a year (thats half the clubs reported net profit) its rather silly to think too far into the future. It is just as likely that utd’s debt could cripple them in the coming years if the effects of globalisation and a prolonged economic downturn do not subside. Let’s just wait and see shall we?
Hats off to the Man Utd fans who are able to remain philosophical about this. Too the Arsenal and Man Utd fans who cant, seriously, get a grip. From reading the comments, im left with the following impression.
Ramsey wont be under any pressure to win trophies at Arsenal? No. Surely there would be more pressure as we havent won anything for quite some time. One particular post makes it seem as though Arsenal are non-league!
He is to be faulted because he chose a team where it would be easier to get into the first XI and this is supposed to mean he lacks ambition? Right…so thats despite the fact that if he had gone to Man Utd he would’ve had a guaranteed season in the Championship with no possibility of an EPL game? And another year away from a squad of EPL players who he could get to know and integrate himself with? Think about it.
Im trying to remain unbiased in my own belief, and I would say simply that yes, Man Utd showed they are the better team last year but the difference isnt all that great. Losing Ronaldo could be pretty bad for them. Wenger has a history of developing youth so I can see the appeal. And finally, FFS the deal is for 5 years. He hasnt signed for life. He’ll only be 23 at the end of the deal, and if it doesnt work out, he’ll be long gone by then anyway!!!
Im an arsenal fan and im both supprised and happy about the good news….. he looks moore like a manu player than an arsenal player but im not complaining
Maybe he wanted to go to arsenal because he didnt want to return to cardif for a loan spell, or maybe wenger did his magic again (snatching a young talent)….. btw i know that it is not funny to miss out on a player that you thought you had……
It’s always the same. If you want to impress a young player, introduce him to the boss. It would have sent a message that United are serious. Arsenal sent that message and got the player, as they have done with a few young players.
United famously introduced David Beckham to the manager and first team immediately before a game, when he was only a kid and they never looked back. It really is that important.
Jesus, why are you taking it as a snub?
Maybe it was just sold better to him by Wenger than Fergie? Maybe he just likes the idea of working with Wenger given his track record with young players etc.
Who knows, it’s a personal decision but I don’t think by joining us that he is taking on less pressure. It’s no coincidence that all our players are constantly being tapped up or signed by all the other big clubs having developed into great players at Arsenal. Can’t you just bask in your glorious season and stop worrying about who you haven’t signed? You have a great team and manager and I’m sure will do well again next season.
You say walcott dosnt play many games out of interset how many does fletcher play. Ramsey also wanted to play with Ronaldo but hes leaving 4 real and lets be honest sending Garry neville was pretty stupid you could have sent quierez at least.
Also who is to say this kid will actually turn out to be such a good player anyway? It’s raw potential and I think 5 mill for someone who done nothing yet ( as with Walcott) is speculative at best.
dont forget gerard pique who was with yee for the last 5 yrs(yes 5 yrs) and has made about 10 Priemer league app i think walcott has done exceptionaly well for his 2 yrs and he has just turned 19.
I rate walcott highly however I think people are getting carried away when they say he will get on the bench straight away he only played something like 22 games for cardiff. Lets hope we still sign Nasri
Why didn’t they send Ryan Giggs (his hero) instead of Gary Neville (everyone’s favourite boo-boy)?
Dress it up how you like, Wenger did what any good manager in any walk of life would have done – he actually showed he cared and wanted the kid. He took the time to demonstrate that face to face with Ramsey, unlike the presumptuous arrogance of Fergusson who sent a minion to show Aaron around a dilapidated Old Trafford, then onto the grey damp streets of Manchester! Ramsey’s progressive thinking is refreshing, he views the Gunners as a financially stable club where his career will flourish under the tutor ledge of the professor, playing in a fantastic stadium and living in UK’s most vibrant & diverse city. What would you do?
One of the biggest clubs in the world with the biggest debt, and still growing.
Fergie let Neville meet him whereas Wenger himself spoke to the lad.
Why Has Ramsey Snubbed Us For Arsenal? because believe it or not, and this might be difficult to hear… united are not the be all and end all of football – shock horror!
”Essentially, if Ramsey doesn’t want to play for United, that’s his look out. If being shown around Carrington last Friday by captain Gary Neville and if joining the team of his idol, Ryan Giggs, isn’t enough for him, then we certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it”
Yes you do. for a start and that’s why all this re iteration about Aaron jooining Arsenal FC. Gary Neville is not the person he looks up to and that should be the man in charge at ManU and he was on holiday and had only time for a tele conference. that shows the concern of a future prospect trying to joing a big club and the club’s concern or attention on the same.
We all know Arsenal is a club where young talents emerge and Aaron is well aware of it and he knows that Arsene does not let go easily any bright prospect in the pipe line. Certainly, Aaron wont regret over his decision and will eventually be a stepping stone in his career
This article is ok, but remembre mr. Ferguson 1986 -1992 – how many titels ?
The real reason is with Arsenal he will have a career as a welsh international, unlike Giggs who cannot be classed as a legend for Wales as he was not allowed to play for them that often – & hardly did anything – (Man utd saying he is injured but then being fit for his club a few days later). This is why I fear Rooney is at the wrong club & must move to make his name for England. Also he gets away with a lot with MU but the same rules do not apply when playing for England, ie. fair play does not exist in the english football as a certain club gets favours when needed. AND THAT THE TRUTH!
the author should stop disrespecting arsenal by calling them a smaller club that has won nothing. the squads are miles apart??? what were you watching last season? He chose arsenal becuase we give our young players a chance to blossom. He knows that at arsenal he will be with the best young players in the world…part of a team of the prersent and the future. Man U should concentrate on keeping ronaldo from those thieves Real madrid rather than questioning ramsay’s self belief because you dont sign for arsenal if you lack belief and deep down you know it.
“The fact that Wenger is sitting comfortably in his position after four years without winning the title and three years without winning anything clearly shows the difference in pressure and expectation between the clubs.”
Wait a second. the gr8 SIR AF went 3 years without winning a trophy too!! Was he under pressure? NEVER!!!! Instead he went and spent millions and won enough for him to be there. Hands up to him, they sustained a consistent level of results to wil the PL & CL.
Very silly point about nani appearances vs walcotts- as if he is the only youngster Wenger has given first team chances to. Remember fabregas is only 21 and has over 130 appearances for us, it just so happens that walcott developed a bit more slowly than expected, but will get many more chances now.
To be honest, they are both great great clubs, and being a gooner i am happy to see him come to us rather than you, i just wish he was older so i could masturbate over his girlfriend because my rule is 18+ only
You make some strong points here, I steel feel though that the Nani – Walcott-comparison is a little bit of considering factors like the overinflated price on Nani, and the fact that he had more to his physical side when arriving United. Also a difference between the Wengerian and the Ferguson way is that Ferguson often buys dead-proven talent for an extra cost.
Either way I as a gooner think that Ramsey would have evolved greatly at United as well. I still think that first-teamappearences would be fever for him there, considering the fact that he is only 17 and Uniteds midfield is incredible as it is. The right sided position is more open for him at Arsenal considering Wengers lust for 4 central midfielders and using wingbacks as wings. United play a more direct and traditional approach.
Finally some respect for the ManU, he choose the best club for his chances in the first team, but he didnt choose the best football team.
He made the right choice, the lad is now is now a Gooner.
It could just be that Arsenal have just shown more interest in him for alot longer. He played against us in the Youth Cup 06/07 when still a schoolboy and we put in a million pound bid to buy him then. Wenger has got such a great track record of identifying talent that I’m not sure United wanted him more as just some kind of insurance. Even if he didn’t make it they could probably still get a larger transfer fee later.
Young Ramsey probably looked at this seasons league table and saw Man Utd lost 5 games and Arsenal only 3 despite losing Eduardo and RVP. Yes you may have won the double but look at the lolly you’ve spent compared to Wenger, millions and millions and you’ll continue to do so. Ramsey ain’t stupid he knows we play just as much attractive football as you do, some say even better, but look what we’ve spent, hardly nowt compared to you. Winning times are on the way. Having said all that I must admit I rooted for you in the Euro Cup Final and was glad you won. A fitting tribute to that great team 50 years ago.
It amuses me that there’s many Gunners fan on a Manchester United blog
Talking about obsession lol
i think aaron made a wise choice. wenger is quality manager, and aaron will be surrounded with players his age.
The post underestimate us and overestimate utd. it is quite an insult for gooners to think that mu is the only club to play for in england, and to join arsenal because it is stress-free? i just cannot take that, mate. great ex-players were force to leave our club in the past due to pressure of the youngster.
gilberto is 1 of them. we replace henry with rvp, eduardo and possibly walcott. we replace captain vieira with 20-year-old cesc. we dispose jens with almunia. we are able to replace ashley with gael. we replace sol with gallas. are they not quality? it is an insult to think that utd has more quality then us. really.
RedDevil87, I suspect that my fellow Gooners on here have come through the newsnow.co.uk newsfeed. Go there and type ‘Arsenal’ into the search box and the link to this page comes up. Believe me, we really couldn’t care less about this blog!
Erm- who gives a crap? Honestly, we have no need to be losing sleep over Ramsey or anyone for that matter, Cris Ron can stay/go, Ramsey can try and realise his potential at Arsenal, England’s Brave John Terry can take the English Captaincy, inexplicably, from under the nose of Rio- truth of the matter is, as a budding footballer, with potential to realise or as an experienced pro looking to play out your dreams there is no better or bigger club than Man United. Period. Biased or not, so Ramsey, good luck keeping up with Theo. Cris Ron- all the best at Old Trafford or at the Bernabeu. Ddoesn’t matter one bit at all- United are bigger and better than all of these little issues- I remember a certain Jon Obi Mikel snubbing us after agreeing terms and look at where he is now, in terms of personal and career development. No sleep lost at Carrington I say to everyone getting worried about this latest wonderkid.
Two words: Rodrigo Possebon
Wow! Talk about a lot of crowing Gunners! One little straw to hang on to in the overwhelming disappointments of last season, I guess.
He will get better guidance and tutelage under Wenger.
That, and as someone said, Utd didn’t make him feel special or important. They gave him a day with one of football’s Chuckle Brothers.
‘His loss, but I like the way you make it sound like he’s made a mistake and was scared of the challenge’
Yeah, whatever makes you feel better about it.
doesnt appear to be too many crowing gooners Jak! Seem quite reasonable if you ask me. However the dissapointments could be a thing of the past with our welsh wizard!!! Stay lucky mancs
Scott the red is obviously a glory hunter.
Thinking that fergie has never gone 3 years without winning nowt of major significance.
Seems a bit petty regardless.
Still, glory hunters are the curse of big football clubs aint they?
Ramsey must be a very intelligent boy who realises that Alex Ferguson has NEVER nurtured talent from that age since the Beckham group ( incidentally I even believe the ‘Beckham group’ development and indeed the whole legacy of AF was more to Eric Cantona,than AF himself.)
If I am are asked to name current permiership players developed by AF since the Beckham era I can only think of Richardson at Sunderland.Others have never gone on to claim a regular place in any premiershiop team.The current squad has been assembled by buying already developed talent such as Rooney. But even Rooney’s actual potential may never be realised.I would not be surprised if Ryan Giggs actually tipped his fellow Welshman of these facts to help his decision making.
La Sagna
Spot on.
I will not pretend to speak for anyone else, I aint crowing about this signing as I simply do not know if he will develop into a top player. Especially given the fact I feel AFC need experience and squad depth, thats what killed our season last time out. IF there are Gooners on here ‘crowing’ then erm, so what? Surely after watching your team win the league & CL, a small matter of a very promising young player snubbing you is no big deal?
Well,
I believe he has more of an opportunity to;
a) Play a lot more first team football and
b) Play in the Premier League next season.
Arsenal have some quality youngsters and apart from going to London, I really believe Arsenal is a suitable step.
Look what we’ve done with the likes of Rossi and Pique! They never stood a chance. I don’t think a midfield consisting of Scholes, Nani, Hargreaves, Carrick, Park and Anderson… to name a few would give him a chance.
It’s not like we need him, it looked to me more like a case of get him before anyone else does, loan him back to Cardiff and then make money out of him.
We’ll be fine.
In answer to Uncle Roy’s 2 words, “Ronaldo Possiblygone!”
Geekov,
I think your last comment is quite laughable. It’s a bit like saying Giggs is only a bit part player at United.
PS: Fuck, 70+ messges.. have the Gooners just discovered news feeds?
I’m a Gooner and I’m only here to see how the Mancs feel about missing out on this lad.
One thing to bear in mind, maybe SAF didn’t meet him personally as he only has another couple of years left at the club (by his own admission). That leaves the intriguing possibility that Gary Neville is being groomed as your next manager.
Calm down.
For what it’s worth, Ronaldo was un-be-lie-va-ble last season. Fingers crossed he buggers off to Spain.
Allez les rouges.
PG… that’;s the difference. United buy the players they need at the right time; they change gradually. What Wenger has done with Arsenal is idealistic and impractical: buy a bunch of youngsters and put unreasonable expectations on them. Is it fair to Fabregas that at 20 years of age, he must lead the team? Is it fair to Hoyte and Traore that they travel to Old Trafford in the FA Cup? Based on what experience?
Just because you can list a bunch of talented players that were snapped up by Arsenal, does that mean Arsenal are better with youngsters or does it mean that if you buy 50, you’re bound to get 5 that can do a job for you?
5When you buy young players, or when you have young players brought thru the ranks, the chances of them actually making it are very very slim.
I agree with the above post in the main. Wenger has tried to do it too much with young players. maybe coz Arsenal had no money due to the new stadium? I dont know.
I have lost count of the number of youth team players i really thought would make it and they sadly didnt.
United can afford to spend £35 million on nani & Anderson. Not to mention the amounts spent on carrick, hargreaves, Teves etc.
maybe wenger thinks he simply cannot compete in that market any more. Then again the success of the likes of Sagna & Eduardo (ancient 24 year olds!) must show it pays to buy proven quality now and again.
Don’t make me laugh – Fabregas would walk into any team in the world.
Er…except Spain’s.
Also, don’t forget how much you paid for Nani and Anderson. That’s hardly ‘bringing through’ young talent.
Good going, Scott. You really got them going with this one! About the deal, you win some; you lose some. I just hope that I finally get to see him play. I’ve heard the buzz but haven’t seen any Cardiff games before.
I think Ramsey wants to take Arsenal as a stepping stone because he only sign a three years contract with them. That doesn’t show full confidence in him.In three years time he is only 20 so that is the real time to decide which is the better club for him.
In response to your suggestion that the two respective squads are, “leagues apart”, I think it’s only fair to politely point out that Arsenal were without the injured van Persie, Eduardo, Rosicky & Sagna when we last played each other& that not only are they players who most people would accept could make a valable contribution to any first team, let alone the bench, but may just have been the difference between beating Utd rather than just largely out-playing them on that day in April…
When Tom F puts his tuppence worth into the hat you sit up and listen and by gad, Tom F, you didn’t half get it spot on mate!! Goon fan boys- get out of here!!!
bad news for untd kid is a top player
bad news for the kid , wenger has a long history of signing and letting go young british talent without giving them a fair crack of the whip
pennant bentley upson jeffers etc
bad news for wales instead of playing week in week out next season he will be stuck in the stands or in the reserve team
bad news all round
ur making out that arsenal are some kind of rubbish team. At man u he will not get games and that us underlined by the fact u were willing to loan him out straight away. Arsene is better working with young players and the boy probably doesnt want to live in the north, pretty much like christiano ronaldo…………
I personally don’t think it was about how many games he’s going to play next year or whenever. If that was the driving factor he would have chosen Everton.
I think he wants to be an even better player. This is where Arsenal win in spades. Lets face it since the “golden generation” who has successfully made it through Man Us youth development system, there Wes Brown and erm … thats about it! Mancs talk about developing British talent and 20 years ago you had a point but times have moved on.
maybe he used a bit of common sense and realised that of the clubs that wanted him …the best midfield in the world at liverpool would be too hard to break into…man yoo are on the way down…so at least he¬ll get a champions lge game at arsenal in a couple of yrs time instead of battling for uefa cup slot after fergie retires..well done lad good decision!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
true the best midfield in the world is bound to include babel and yossi lol
typical dipper
@June
Amazing show of maturity, mate! whats your age, 10??
It was quite refreshing to read the begining comments where almost everyone was talking fair. now its a big stinkpile of accusations…
The only thing thats really ticking me off is idiotic Arsenal and Pool fans telling us about debt and “financial pinch”.
1.Check your own loans, morons.
2. United’s Free cash flow is higher than its debt payments.
3. Glazers have the money but wont use it pay off the debt. i.e. They are borrowing at 7% and getting a return of 8.5%.
If you dont understand modern business, dont behave like Donald Trump.
when has ferguson, after mid-90′s developed world class player, or even just a good player?
Ramsey probably chose the best young player developer instead of someone buying their keyplayers and hance success.
Arsenal though seem to have just 1 natural wide player at the moment so better chances there.
I’ve only seen Ramsey for those few minutes in the Cup Final, so it’s hard to say how good he’ll be. I’m not overexcited about him choosing us either because we’re stuffed full of promising 17 year olds. What we actually need is a bit more experience – proven quality.
To all the United fans who say he’ll find it easier to break into our team than yours: if all he wanted was first team footy, he’d have gone to Everton, wouldn’t he?
hes v good GG, will suit arsenal down to the ground as long as wenger gives him game time
Not sure he will be physically powerful enough for centre midfield so expect to see him wide
Liverpool having the best midfield?????
Two might get games in Arse of Man Utd and the rest wouldnt get even on bench.
As arsenal fan i came through newsfeed. Though article itslef had some wild assumptions (lack of ambition, seriously?) but discussion seemed mature at start so might read this more often. One thing is rooting for your team but you still should be able to respect and criticise your own and other teams.
Hard to see that Ramsey would get many chances in next few year unless he is something in the fabregas department.
Jeffers was given too many chances and pennant too (off the pitch). Upson and bentley still not good enough.
Trust a dipper to turn up on a united blog claiming the world’s best midfield for the Spanish Waiter’s Loserpool FC- Sheesh, like fcukin bone china in a bull pen; get out of here before you get trampled on!! About having the best midfield the world has seen- sheesh, you dumb scousers make me laugh!!!!! As for the you Goon Fan Boys turning up here, killing the bandwidth- hoora, you’ve signed another boy wonder, and?? To say United lost out on this one is silly, Ramsey has made his bed and he will sleep in it- be that the bench, 2 or 3 starts or a full run in the first team, we don’t know until he starts in the premier league, which knowing Wenger, will be a while to come. G’luck, g’bless goon fan boys- you lot really need it, what with 2 of your best from last season jumping ship (Hleb, as good as gone, Flamini- already gone). Here’s hoping little Fabregas can carry the team this time around and here’s also hoping that you guys keep a hold of adebayor (although I’d ban him from the barbers..) and sort your defence out cos you lot might as well sign up for another season of promise and anticlimax.
For all the talk of Wenger turning youngsters in to World class players and Fergie failing to do this since the 90s, I wonder where you’ve all been.
Have you all forgotten that skinny lad who joined us from Portugal aged 18? “One trick pony” I think he was called. “Reyes is better than him” I think Arsenal fans said.
Now he is the best player in the World.
Geekov – a glory hunter? Purlease. (Although at least we have glory to hunt eh?
)
Since Fergie won his first trophy in 1990, he hasn’t gone longer than one season without winning anything.
fergie does develop youngtsers well, so does wenger. they are both class managers.
ramsey is a Man United fan and still chose gunners. United also lost thier trialist Havard Nordveit to Arsenal. arsenal are more about youth right now than united, 10 years ago it were different.
its all right for you lot, u can spend 20million on another nani, anderson.
well played United for the double. congrats. one day we’ll bring that european cup to highbury, norh london.
Yeah, there is always a misconception when it comes to the term ‘developing youth’. The young players don’t HAVE to ccome through the youth academy to fall in to this catagory…
Nani is going to become one of the biggest pains in United’s opponents arses over the next few years and Andersonsonson will be ruling our midfield for a long while once he becomes a reqular starter. Players at this young age will improve at a much faster rate at United than if they remained in there own teams.
I would never say anything too negative about Arsene Wenger grooming young talent
and at 5m Ramsay is a bargain.
fancy that manu knocking a 17 rookie for not joining how classy is that. youngsters want to join afc because we let them run free in the cups where manu play ther big guns.
As a Birmingham fan, I cant fucking wait for us to sign him in a couple of years time. When will these youngsters learn that Arsene is making his bi-annual british signing just to placte their UK fans, when the reality is it will be another British talent wasted by the Arse again. All well ang good you naive gooners going on about your youth policy, but like everything to do with Arsenal, it flatters yo deceive and has no substance to it.
If i was sullivan, i’d put a 2 million bid in now just to be safe!!
Bad signing for the lad, but a great one for \brum!!
I am not very worried about this, and it proves to me that Wengers strategy of relying too heavily on young talented but not quite ready hotshots,wich has won them next to nothing for the last 3-4 years will continue. So, I look forward to another almost-there season with the gooners, while United will continue where we left it at the end of this season, as champions of both England and Europe!
Gary Neville guided tour!?
Private jet and a personal audience with
Wenger? You should have shown a tad more interest ‘Rudolph’
I find it laughable that you think he would sign for you over Arsenal.
1.) Fergie is on hols so speaks to him on the phone.
2.) Arsene ensures the entire family visit him in Switzerland for lunch.
3.) Chuckle brother and has been captain shows him around manc stadium and the training facilities that Rio has such difficulty finding.
4.)He is shown around Arsenal’s training facilities by no less than our stand in MD.
5.) Manu want to loan him back to his old club,
6.) AFC say he wil play in the (non mandatory MM cup games) FA Cup games and maybe the odd bench game.
7.) while you may have won the league and CL it’s doubtful you will be so lucky again next season and the boy saw sense.
8.) Golden boy Ronaldo wants to leave and the club who are some 600m+ in debt won’t make 50-70m available if u get if from Ronaldo – that will go towards the mortgage.
arsene will play you if your good enough no matter what age ,look at fabregas,also i dont all gooner fans look at last season as a complete failure , we had just lost our best player in henry, and with a very young squad almost won the title , see what happens when man utd loose their best player ronaldo .lets see what happens next season….
Steve – I imagine you were one of the many people who would ask what would happen when we lost Ruud, who’d scored 22 goals for us in the league, despite being benched for much of the final 1/3 of the season.
The following season we scored 11 more goals and won the league.
Why are we being flooded with views from Arsenal fans?
Yes Steve we will se how United fare next season without Ronaldo. Just like in 1995 when we sold Hughes, Kanchelskis and Ince and we were tipped for failiure and won the double, juts like when we sold Ruud and didnt replace him and went and won the title. Rooney can stop living in Ronaldo’s shadow now and with Nani and especially Anderson improving im not particually worried. Anderson will be one of the best players in the world in 2 years if he avoids serious injury.
I think the main thing is that Wenger got him to fly out whilst we got him to see the club with our captain. If it’s right that his parents wanted to see “senior management” before having him think about moving to United then I’m willing to let him go.
Let’s look at what we are aware of:
*The lad is supposed to be a United fan.
*The lad’s idol is at our club and is looking to become a coach so that Ramsey would be learning from him for years to come.
*We’re having to deal with the bullcrap Real Madrid has stirred up with involving Ronaldo.
The last point is something that I’d like people to think about. If a CO or owner of a business is looking to bring you on board but has to disappear from the company because of some crap in another Country he has to deal with are you going to refuse to join? Are you looking to say “I want to see the owner/head man or else you don’t get me”?
Ramsey’s family go wooed. There’s nothing wrong with that, United have done it in the past. However you have to look beyond the Glitz and Glamour of how they treat you when they want you and try to work out what is best for your career. Sometimes Champagne and Caviar doesn’t take you to where you want to go.
It sounds to me that Ramsey’s family, and maybe the lad himself, had an idea of what he was worth and what they wanted and they went with the club which fitted into that fantasy. Now we just wait to see how it turns out.
By the way some people are talking you’d have thought Ronaldo had left – he’s still a Manchester United player and will still be here next season.
When he does leave though United will go on, we’ll go on winning things, not one man makes this club, the club will continue to progress and be successful whether Ronaldo leaves or not.
As for Ramsey fair play to the lad but all this hoo-haa about Arsenal playing classy football and breeding successful youngsters doesn’t wash with me.
You can talk about becoming successful but how can you become successful when you’re players want to leave. Flamini, Hleb – we may lose Ronaldo but that’s two of your main players there – you’ll replace them with some more youngsters who will have to take time to settle and wait, it’ll be another two seasons before you’re challenging.
If Wenger was at any other top club his job would be under pressure, it would not be tolerated at United as those are the pressures that come with being at the BIGGEST club in the World.
I was looking forward and hoping Ramsey would sign for United but he hasn’t and will sign for Arsenal, I won’t hate him, won’t boo him when he comes to Old Trafford (on the bench) and I definitely won’t lose any sleep over this – United’s future is guaranteed to be bright with players like Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Nani, Anderson and co on the scene so settle down take this one player and not win a thing for another three seasons but don’t worry you’ll still have ‘fancy’ football while we’ll be playing attacking, free scoring football and actually winning trophies.
Jeez, it’s obvious why he chose Arsenal – Fergie goes out and buys a couple of 10m plus signings every season so Ramsey hasn’t got a hope in hell of getting in the first team. Fergie isn’t capable of building a team with youngsters………..unless he’s paid over 10m for them!! Ramsey is going to a club that will give him a chance.
The reason Walcott hasn’t played many games is because he’s been out injured for over 30% of the time. You’re second choice, accept it.
Interesting atricle with some good points there. However, I would strongly disagree with most of the points or assumptions about the kids mentality. I don’t think his choice has anything to do with him not feeling ‘up to it’ or that he couldn’t face the pressure at united. In all fairness in most cases if you are good enough to play for United you are good enough to play for Arsenal AND vice versa, so I don’t really think that signing for Arsenal is much of a step down from United.
What swung it was undoubtedly how Arsenal spent more effort pursueing him and how we have the better reputation for developing and playing younger players- not any sense of ambition or any other character trait from Ramsey
Everton offers playing time. man utd offers prestige. Arsenal offers both. Easy.
“may be it was the fact that sir alex would only speak on the phone to him, and send him on a tour with phil neville lol should of sent giggs the boys idol”
I am sure that we sent him on a tour with a Everton Player
There is no question that man u and chelsea are currently both “bigger” clubs than arsenal. There is however only one reason why this is true and the reason is money. Don’t delude yourselves. The only thing that has changed since Arsenal won a successsion of trophies under Wenger was the chasm in financial power between united, chelea and arsenal. The Arsenal board has rightly retained Wenger as manager because despite this huge disadvantage Arsenal have been pretty competitive throughout and probably only lost the title last year because of lack of squad depth when injuries hit.
The new stadium will undoutedly increase Arsenal’s financial power and so we shall see what happens when there is a more level playing field. Although United play attractive football at times, there is still no real comparison.
I have a theory that it is to do with the declaration from Sir Alex that he is going to step down after 2 years. If Aaron joins Utd and goes to Cardiff on loan for 1 year and to some other club for one more season thereafter than by the time he comes back he’ll be 19 and will see another manager at the helm of things at OT. That manager might want to play his team/players and there might be no place for him etc. So with Utd he will see uncertainities about his future when Sir Alex leaves. In my opinion this must have been thought or fed to him in the entire process.
7.) while you may have won the league and CL it’s doubtful you will be so lucky again next season and the boy saw sense
Yes we have all watched in over the past few seasons as wenger and his team of 12 and 13 yr old superstars have won everything under the sun
United on the other hand with their team of failing oaps
such as nani rooney evra have been woeful and won nowt
dear me what a load of tosh
Although United play attractive football at times, there is still no real comparison
another pearler, untd scored more goals and won more trophies what comparison do you want?
as for this myth that arsenal are some kind of footballing harlem globe trotters, when half the season you play 1 up front proves what junk that is
Ramsey is going to a club that will give him a chance.
yes Ramsey is going to a club that in recent years has given chance after chance to british youngsters
guys who were bought in like pennant jeffers wright all went on to become big stars and 1st team regulars as did home grown players like bentley upson and sidwell
clearly ramsey will be the next british player in line to get the 100% backing of wenger
john- silly boy. how long are u idiots gonna play this “small squad we got no money bulllshit”?
in case u hadnt noticed uv already got ur new stadium and “apparently” lots of cash if wenger wants it. looking at the few people he has spent money on its no wonder he doesnt wanna risk his job!
wasnt reyes your most expensive signing? lol
keep spending small amounts on very good youngsters and when they dont make it or stagnate, (walcott, bently for eg.) u can sell em on without fuss about how much u spent on them. no risk strategy that seems to be working for wenger. (thats if his aim is to maintain his good rep. in the press rather than winning major trophies, eg, prem, champs lg)
wenger aint all the scum press make him out to be. when he came to england he inherited the best back four around. as good as any back four around today or since then. when that defence broke up, it was the last back four u had!
uve been awful since at the back, especially compared to how well u “keep the ball,” though u dont always use it very well!
how many titles has wenger won for 4 u since adams keown winter dixi left?
1 is it? genius, give him a knighthood and give urselves, all of u, a pat on th e back for being so well off financially, (well the directors are anyway;) having a wage and transfer bill lower than ours an chelskis, and winning nothing at all like citeh! AGAIN
OH, and john, we will always be bigger than you. ALWAYS. yes, i know it hurts but feel it once more, ALWAYS! ;O)
Read just now Aaron Ramsey saying that he decided by his gut feeling that he wanted to join Arsenal. He did not say anything about fist team opportunities, or about living with his best mate Chris Gunter etc….
So, I get the feeling, what he meant by gut feeling was actually a polite way of saying Arsenal treated me much better.
Got to say, we took the transfer fro granted. United management possible thought that since the move to us had the backing of Cardiff City, and also since Ramsey is a childhood united and giggsy fan, he would automatically sign for us.
We should have really tried to make some more effort. Possibly should have sent Giggsy instead of Gary to show him around.
Arsneal flew his entire family to Switzerland to meet wenger, no doubt they boy and his family felt they were much more wanted at Arsenal.
Fergie will no doubt blow his fuse at united management for this and the gaffe of publishing the news of his signing prematurely on united’s site.
Last time united goofed up, we lost ronaldinho to barca. hope lessons are learnt, and this wont repeat.
“I do wonder though how easy Ramsey will be sleeping in years to come when reflecting on this life changing decision.”????? WTF????? you stupid arrogant cant
jsos here’s a little insight for you.
Man Utd, prior to the arrival of the Glazers, had very healthy finances. They had cash in the bank. They were constantly in profit. Even with Ferguson splashing out big money on players. And his bar tab.
They made a LOSS of £58.2 million in the year to 30th June 2007. Better than the previous year, when they made a LOSS of £135.3 million.
BUT their borrowing has gone up from £603.9 million to £666.7 million.
They now OWE to creditors, a bloody great big £764 million!
Just think. Before the Glazers, they were rich. Now they look no better than your average credit card junkie. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Anybody STILL think that billionaire take-overs are a good thing?
Scott the Red, wasn’t so long you didn’t win the league for three years, and fans were calling for fergie’s head and slating him, I think it was only the FA cup you won between 2003-6, so don’t say the pressure’s different
June said that everything was fine at ManU. Sensible investment. Sensible financial planning. Plans to increase the capacity at Old Traff. Etc, etc, etc.
There is a thing called “creative accountancy”, whereby you can prove anything with figures. There is another thing called “positive spin”, whereby you take the facts and present them in a positive fashion.
I prefer to see things in simple terms.
In simple terms, if ManU (or the company that owns ManU) continue to increase their borrowing at the current rate……they will be borrowing around £1,000 million…..within five years. And that doesn’t include any extra loans for developing the stadium.
In simple terms, they have not made any profit, since the Glazers bought the club. In the first two years, they have recorded losses of £195 million.
In simple terms, they have mortgaged Old Trafford stadium, the training ground, all the players’ contracts, everything. If they default on repayments to JPMorgan Bank, the bank will effectively own ManU.
In simple terms, they have increased ticket prices by a whopping 12% in the first year. Followed by an even bigger increase of 14% in the following year.
Lovely stuff
looneygooner- ” the pressure is different!”
u cant deny this. u can ask people not to say it cos the truth hurts, but u cant stop people telling the truth. just dont listen if u dont like what u hear.
i,l say it again for u, ” the pressure is different!”
you said urself that when we went a few years without winning the leauge(we have just 10 from 16 available!;) fergies was under a lot of pressure. unlike wenger now!
it seems he can do no wrong. no one wants to crucify him. if the roles had been reversed the press would have been all over fergie. same old shite. “shift of power!” “fergies lost it” “shoulda retired” tactically inept” lol jokers. and yes, so our some of our fans who agree with theses idiotic journalists at the time. ones who all tipped liverpool to win the league at the start of the season b4 last, that was hillarious!
and so r you!
Lonely Gooner:
Since their last titles…
Sir Alex Ferguson
2003: League
2004: Fa Cup
2005: Nothing
2006: League Cup
2007: League
2008: League and European Cup
Arsene Wenger
2004: League
2005: FA Cup
2006: Nothing
2007: Nothing
2008: Nothing
Since Fergie won his first trophy with United in 1990, 18 years ago, he has never gone longer than 1 season with an empty trophy cabinet.
Maybe he signed for us because your boss was arrogant about the signing and presumptuous.
Scott-is this some sort of record for the most posts on a RoM article?
LonelyGooner-who the fuck are ManU?
Just quietly as well, I know this Ramsay kid is meant to be the next big thing and it’s a good thing Arsenal signed him, but if somebody like Lee Martin was at Cardiff wouldn’t he be looked at as another bright prospect?
Theo Walcott “cough10millioncough” is another great young player but he has taken his time. Manchester United pay for Anderson, Nani and even Ronaldo before that 5 years ago and you Gooners scoffed at us… our players are doing the business from day one and only getting stronger, for all the quality in Arsene’s young signings I think you’d agree that it is experience that cost you last season after playing so well. I think it is a ‘NOW’ bunch of players you were crying out for.
United and Arsenal have both undergone transitional periods but the seams are a lot more subtle in our side.
Not having a dig, well actually I probably am.
Maybe because he’s a bright lad. Why go to United when your manager will be gone before two years. Also a big star will be parachuted in when you prawn munchers get twitchy. He would have to ask his dad about your youth development because since Beckham, Scholes, Giggs ad nausea, who recently? It would be like Arsenal boasting Adams, Parlour, Keown etc. He is looking towards the future and past performance is no quarentee to the future.
Are you talking about sucess ‘Anyone but United’?
Do you mean the past as in 3 weeks ago?
austin – sillier boy – historically it is arsenal that have always been the bigger club though you have certainly gained some ground in recent years. didn’t you spend some time in the second division? you have obviously had a good run but it is ikely to end when you lose the manager and finally achieve total bankrupcy.
our signing policy has always been dictated by trying to stay within our means and even now is predicated on repaying stadium related debt. we have decided to do the best with what we can afford and that has sometimes worked out brilliantly – henri, vierra, overmars, pires etc etc etc and sometimes less so – reyes, cygan etc.
for the period during which we have won nothing the greater financial power of chelsea and financial policy of united put arsenal out of the running when it came to signing really good established players. there’s going to be hit and miss if you are investing in young talent – rather than just going out and buying existing products thereby exposing yourself to still further levels of horrendous debt.
for the record, you have also signed some total duffers – eg djemba-djemba, forlan, shaha, park, howard etc etc etc etc
what you say about the back four is definitely true (good to get something right) and i don’t think wenger’s speciality is defensive know how. but then until this season when you finally bored everyone to death in order to reach the final of the CL neither has it been fergie’s.
Looney gooner at what point where United fans calling for Fergie’s head? I have never heard in my enitre life time one United fan call for Fergie’s head. Some of your cockney mates who have nevr been to Old Trafford maybe did, but they hardly count as a United fan. Your weclome to Aaron Ramsey, the kid has a long way to go and we have a player 2 years his senior who has far more ability then Ramsey. Anderson will be one of the best players in the world within 2 years. Wenger may be a great manager but since the pizza gate incident hes a changed man, he lets pressure get to him and this stems onto your players. I knew you would crack even when you went 5 points clear. Arsenal have proven they lack bottle when it counts.
anyone but united- when i read ur name i thought u were a utd fan callin himself that to take the piss. but ur a real abu, lol sad b******, get a life!
bet ur sick that, in-gur-land are s***e!
p.s. brown,oshea,fletch. just to answer ur question on who since. not the greatest players in the world by all means but still able and needed squad players that contribute to us winning MAJOR trophies. people like pique rossi and evans are better then those 3 all be it in different positions. the main problem theses days compared to when fergies fledglings broke thru is that we have WAY MORE quality in front of the kids so its harder to break thru. anyone with half a brain can see this. there are a HELL OF A LOT of ex utd players around the “top end” of the championship. or lower end of the prem. jones,spector,campbell, sylan blake, richardson, evans and ginge at sunderland!
the list goes on, and so does our youth development. always will be ingrained into our club.
Never assume a deal is done until it’s official. I thought the likelihood of Ramsey joining United were high but Arsenal offered a better option if indeed he wanted to play PL football next year. Wenger is adept at developing young talent so I can see how it could have been more appealing for a young player eager to play at the top level.
I’m not that disappointed because we have a strong team, and while the addition of another talented player is great I think our focus has to be in other areas than the midfield. Whether Ramsey will play for Arsenal in anything other than Carling Cup matches remains to be seen but he’s a great signing. The big question for me if I were an Arsenal fan is when to expect some success from the young talent Wenger signs. Arsenal play some great football but United have managed to do play equally attractive football and get silverware. Arsenal’s seasons of late have a “bridge too far” feel to them and I’m sure the club’s supporters want more than the promise of next year, especially when several have already escaped them with nothing to show for their efforts.
firstly, good to see some sensible views from arsenal and man u fans in the top part of the comments.
as for ramsey, no one here is a mind reader so unless he comes out and actually says i snubbed man u for arsenal because…. we will never really know.
everyone thought united had him in the bag clearly including your press office fergie and queiroz, and arsenal and manu fans
the giggs factor is pretty much negated by the loan back as you cant really believe giggs will still be playing a big part in 2 seasons time?
the fact that your manager didnt even send a high profile director or his assistant to meet him and wenger had our director and our chief scout meet him at the ground before flying him out for a face to face, obviously made the player feel we cared more about getting him / werent taking it for granted.
saying that he isnt up for a challenge is ridiculous we have 8 or 9 young midfielders all looking to break through many his age or younger, thats without the experienced first teamers
fact is it wont be the last time we both want a player and it isnt the 1st or last time theyll turn one or the other of us down, you cant sign every good player on the planet. im sure your still happy with your squad and both clubs will go on with or without him as for the bloggers comment about him sleeping easy,,, theres no need to throw your toys out the pram and starty chatting garbage!
Tom F I got your snide innuendo regarding Arsene Wenger. So for your high flown words you show yourself to be cheap. As for the word ‘past’. It means Ramsey was not part of season 2007-2008, his future is 2008-2009. Clear enough! It’s not difficult.
is arsenal in business of winning trophies or running a stadium construction company with kindergarten on the side?
Sorry ANYONE BUT UNITED, it was cheap.. I couldn’t resist. I have no problem with Wenger or the fact that Ramsay chose Arsenal. They play good football.
I cannot believe the arrogance of this article. So what if somebody wants to snub a move to United….is rgar such a crime? Maybe he believes in Wenger more than Ferguson and feels he can be developed into a world class player. Look at Henry, Vieira, Anelka, Fabregas….do I have to continue? They made their names at Arsenal as will Ramsey.
He’s made the right choice for a youngster and there is no big conspiracy….he just wanted to join a club he believes is best for his career.
looney gooner our prices may have gone up but they are still cheaper than yours
plus unlike arsenal who in fairness are a big team in london and the home counties we are known and supported throughout the world
don’t know worry about us , you worry what happens when wenger goes and all of your foreign legion toddle off with him
never mind maybe you can bring bruce rioch!
yes hassan i can see a shed load of british players who have made their name under wenger in your list
try looking at SAF with giggs scholes neville etc etc for someone who can work with british talent
ps henry was a £11m buy with a world cup winners medal stop pretending he was some unknown bought for £150k
At the end of the day, pick your toys back up.
Henry may have cost 11m but he was a winger who was struggling with form nd confidence.
Ramsey has made a decision that will hold him in good stead for the future. Why is it such a big crime that he has snubbed Man Utd for Arsenal? Why does it have to be a conspiracy? Why does it have to be for any reason apart from the fact that he wants to play for Wenger?
Look at the carling cup for the last two years…..final and semi final with a bunch of youngsters who wenger is grooming for the future….why does it matter where they were born….what does it matter if they are british or spanish or french????
It’s not a crime hassan… it’s called a discussion. For United fans, by United fans… if you spent more time on your own teams pages you wouldn’t get so offended.
I like the banter though so I hope you keep adding the news feeds.
Look at the carling cup for the last two years…..final and semi final with a bunch of youngsters who wenger is grooming for the future….why does it matter where they were born….what does it matter if they are british or spanish or french????
OK Then lets go down that route nani and anderson are what 19 and 21
already have a pl and a cl medal
well done SAF
lol, and how much did nani and anderson cost between them? 33m wasn’t it? For that Wenger bought Toure, Hleb, Adebayor, Van Persie and Fabregas and STILL had over 10m left over. Take the money away from Fergie and he couldn’t manage his way out of a paper bag.
Moan Utd are in severe debt and could go bust in a few years, then the glory hunting plastic fans (which make up 90% of your fans) will go elsewhere and you know what? The whole country will pi55 themselves laughing
the reason he choose Arsenal is that fergie is going in 3 years, Ronaldo looks to be on his way out and Arsenal have a number of players of a simular age, who are all at a simular level to him, which will make the move easier. & Giggs wont be around for much hlonger.
Although i believe Fergie to be a great judge of when to put a new player in, and how to condition his personality.
He has competition next season with the likes of:
Walcott, Vela, Rosiky, (Hleb or Nasri) Randell, Lansbury, Wiltshire (Next Fabrigas) Gibbs.
These are just some of the wingers at Arsenal he may have 2 compete with. Ok he is better than some already.
Am an Arsenal fan, i think its a little stupid for Arsenal fans to talk about other clubs going bust, and being in debt.
Whats the point lets just concentrate on our selves at the moment. we had Dein leaving and then Endelman.
Its not all plain sailing behind the scenes at Arsenal either, What would we do if Wenger left.
Amz do you realise how arrogant you sound, let alone how ignorant you are.
The difference with Nani and Anderson is that he have come in to Uniteds first team and performed well from day one, they didn’t take years to pregress.
You’ll see over the next two seasons that Anderson will be one of the best midfielders in the world. So will Fabregas, he is quality also.
Take the money away from Fergie and he couldn’t manage his way out of a paper bag
yeah and we all saw how he struggeled with aberdeen lol
do us a favour son and try and do a bit of research before you make yourself look a fool
Moan Utd are in severe debt and could go bust in a few years
another pearler, united are in the top 2 clubs in the world in terms of fanbase
we have the highest turnover and will never go bust
now arsenal are a big club in london and possibly the home counties but they will never ever be able to match united
if yoru arsenals bank manager wenger must be your hero, if your an arsenal fan maybe you should be asking him why he hasn;t spent a few more quid and actually won something in recent years
if fergie had the two years wenger had then he would have been hammered by the media and would have them crying for his head
double standards have always applied to arsenal, mainly due to the huge ammounts of ex players in the media who cut wenger so much slack despire the lack of trophies next to SAF
the appalling disciplinary record of his team and the fact only 1 one out of his match 16 is british
these facts are all swept under the carpet by the likes of
bbc dixon
sky marwodd charlie nic merson alan smith
talk sport wright, groves etc
face it you have underacheived in recent years and this myth that your a hybrid of brazil 170 and ajax on the mid 70s has been shattered
You all seem to be a bit delluded…..if wenger spent £30m on two players, they would also be in the arsenal first team and become the best okayers in the world.
Just stop crying and accept the fact that Ramsey has made his choice due to footballing reasons and not financial.
Ramsey has stated himself that he joined for the following reasons:
“It is an honour to be wanted by massive clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton. In the end I had to make the decision I felt was right for my future. I have come a fair way since then, but there is still a lot of hard work ahead.”
“Also, United’s representative was some mouthy little manc who can’t even grow a proper moustache. How can I be expected to sign for a club when the bloke’s facial hair looks like a teenagers pubes glued to his upper lip? “
Fergie did have 3 recent years where he didn’t win anything !! don’t you remember.
Fact is Wenger is doing things a different way and is creating an Ajax type set-up where he’s developed the academy side and all the teams play the same and are filled with top talent.
Whilst manure buy youth, they do not seem to have the same focus on this. They continue to pay £15 mill plus for slightly established talent, rather than go for 17 yr olds for less.
We’ll see over the coming yrs how things evolve. I’m personally confident in Wengers vision for the future.
Jason – care to tell us when those three years were?
As I’ve said, look it up, and you’ll see that since 1990, Fergie hasn\t gone longer than ONE SEASON without winning something.
Obviously he would choose arsenal over united.
If you were a 17 year old wonderkid who do you think you would progress with
it just should be obvious to anyone who can count that the young players (and other players) man u have brought in during arsenal’s trophyless phase cost infinitely more money than those brought in at arsenal – which means, i repeat, that what has separated man u and chelsea from arsenal (possibly until this close season when there seems to be a semblance of competition from the arsenal end eg talk of santa cruz going to arsenal) is money or attittudes to accumulating debt. you don’t honestly think that if wenger had the financial clout he wouldn’t use it, do you?
when it comes to style of play although man u have definitely moved forward with addition of tevez and last two years of ronaldo, it is still arsenal that europe rates. it is only a matter of time and money before this is translated into success. closer this season than last..
Mancs seems to be missing the point here.
We are not laughing at you because Ramsey chose us over you, we are laughing because yet again Manchester’s fans are displaying a level of arrogance that only United can show.
You guys have just won a double, something which even the most saunch Gooner would give you props for, show some bloody humility and accept the fact that United is just another club and not every player in the world dreams of playing for you.
As Ramsey himself has said, he feels he could have a better footballing future at Arsenal than with you. Thats it, get over it. He won’t be the first to feel that way or the last.
Internet war lol
I hear C Ronaldo is on his way to Madrid after the Euro’s. That would be fun.
Fergie did have 3 recent years where he didn’t win anything !! don’t you remember
err No I Can’t because it didn’t happen
is still arsenal that europe rates.
so not the team that won the pl twice in the last two years and has made the cl semi the previous yea and then won it this year
nope it’s clearly arsenal
do you actually beleive that rubbish?
You all seem to be a bit delluded…..if wenger spent £30m on two players, they would also be in the arsenal first team and become the best okayers in the world.
what like reyes and jeffers you mean?
lol this is like shooting fish in barrell
keep em gooners, who you gonna drag up to fight your corner next, lofty watts?
The arrogance of manyoo fans is astounding. I can’t stand the arse but just because this kid chooses to sign for them instead of manyoo he has no ambition? correct me if i’m wrong but arsenal were not that far away from winning things last season and maybe, just maybe Ramsay felt that playing under wenger would be better for his development – or ‘god forbid’ he acually prefers arsenal as a club – noooo that can’t be right, who in their right mind would ever choose not to go to the greatest team in the world that ever existed. Get a grip manyoo fans, you aren’t the be all and end all of football as a certain Mr Ronaldo has shown you.
Alex Ferguson had a good record with youngsters but this was back in the late 90s with beckham , Scholes Giggs etc what has happened since the . United have gone out and spent hundreds of millions of pounds to make the team they have now. They bring in the finished article. Arsenal by contrast still develop young talent and there is a place in his team for them. Maybe this is what Ramsey saw.
they werent that far from winning thinsg about 180 miles south
Hassan Mirza: what about Campbell, Simpson and the rest in our reserve team, just because they haven’t been given a chance in out first team doesn’t mean they aren’t good. Did i just read that you said you’re not an Arsenal fan..sure, could have fooled me. And yeah those 100′s of millions have helped us win trophies through a strong squad, the 100′s of pence that Arsenal have been spending, have helped them win what???? Getting to finals isn’t an achievement.
Anyway Arsenal fans can have Ramsey, we’ve got Davide Petrucci now. And most of you will find out that the main reason why United fans are shocked that he chose Arsenal over us, was because sky sports and every other news source made it seem like he was coming here since he said Giggs is his idol and United his childhood team.
I think they got Ramsey and we got Petrucci. I think we trumped the bigger star. Although only time will tell.