Wednesday 10 December 2014 09:27, UK
Paul Merson has urged Aaron Ramsey to build on his two-goal performance for Arsenal against Galatasaray.
The Welshman, who has now scored six goals this season, netted one into the bottom corner and another from long-range as Arsenal ended their group stage with a 4-1 win in Turkey.
If he had reached the heights of last season he’d be playing for Barcelona. That’s how high and how good he was. I thought he was the best midfield player in the country last year
And Merson says Ramsey can draw on the confidence from his first-half display and make an impact for Arsenal over the Christmas fixtures.
“He is the type of lad that can go and score six in six, without a doubt,” he said. “It’s all about confidence and we’ve seen that he can do it – he’s a really, really good player.
“If he had reached the heights of last season he’d be playing for Barcelona. That’s how high and how good he was. I thought he was the best midfield player in the country last year – probably the best player in the country at one stage, with Luis Suarez, until he got injured.
“He takes a lot of stick and the reason is, I think, because of how well he did last year. He’s not going to live up to what he did last season, in my opinion. Everything he touched went in. He does very well, out of all the others, he gets all the goals.
“We’re talking about ‘is he back?’ And that’s six goals this season – that’s not bad!
“He’s a good player, he’s got a good attitude. But before it turned around for him I thought he was pushing too much – always looking to get forward, getting in front of the ball instead of travelling from behind it. He always thought, ‘I need to get a goal, if I don’t get a goal will I be in the team?’
“I think he’s relaxed since then and look what happens when you do. It’s a shame, and I know this sounds silly, but he’s tried too hard to score goals.”
Prolific
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp says Ramsey’s energetic style should see him get on the scoresheet with regularity.
He said: “He’s got the energy. Of all the midfielders, he can make lung-bursting runs. If you look at his stats after games, he can run 11 or 12 kilometres per game. He’s up there with the most prolific midfield players in terms of the distances he covers. That’s why he can get those goals – because he can run beyond the forwards.
“If you go through Arsenal’s midfield he’s the one that you feel can nick you a goal. He’s the one that can get one in off his knee. If you go through the other ones that play centrally you don’t really see too many goals in them.
"Santi Cazorla can nick one but Ramsey is the one that can get you to 10 goals – he’s already got six and I believe he can get more now because of the confidence. The two goals he scored were completely different but both with his wrong foot.
“Jack Wilshere will get you three or four goals a year, Ramsey will get you 10 or 12 goals with ease. He proved that last year and I expect him to get to those numbers again as long as he stays fit.
“You get one or two and you believe you can get more.”
