Arsène Wenger is delighted with the news that returning midfielder Aaron Ramsey will return to face Everton this weekend.
The Welshman has been out for over four months after suffering a thigh injury against West Ham in December.
World Class Welshman
The boss delightfully told the press on Friday that Ramsey is, “an all-round midfielder who can score goals and always drives the team forward. He's a real box-to-box player so it's good to have him back.”
With the talent that the midfielder can bring to the team in such a high-pressured game, Wenger continued to admit that he would be ready to gamble on the Welshman’s fitness after many key absentees in the middle of the park.
Crock’s Ahoy
This includes record midfield Mesut Özil, who will also miss Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final against Wigan next Saturday afternoon.
Young talent Serge Gnabry will also not make the squad, while Kieran Gibbs is also out with a recurring injury problem. However, the loss of the left back is softened by the news that Spaniard Nacho Monreal will be available.
11 of the Best
Without any sudden injury setbacks, the Gunners side will be similar to the previous against Manchester City.
Szczesny – Sagna – Mertesacker – Vermaelen – Monreal – Arteta – Flamini – Rosicky – Cazorla – Oxlade-Chamberlain – Giroud
It is expected that the boss will start with Oxlade-Chamberlain to give the side some drive in the midfield alongside Rosicky, while Ramsey and Podolski on the bench provide an option in case things take a turn for the worse.
Monreal will also step in to replace the injured Kieran Gibbs, while Thomas Vermaelen will keep his place alongside Mertesacker while Koscielny recovers from a calf problem.
90 minutes of grey
With a starting 11 still available to Wenger’s disposable, the Gunners will line-up knowing that anything but a win will put them in a compromising position for the last month of the season.
Despite Arsenal’s best season in current years, they find themselves looking behind their shoulders yet again. Wenger believes that the clash at Goodison Park is crucial to their status as one of England’s elite domestic sides.
“It is a six-pointer. For us, it’s an opportunity to go up forward and as well an opportunity to make a distance with Everton of course.”
"For us it's very difficult to imagine the impact it will have on finishing fourth, but it's a game we want to win.
“Everton have won against Swansea in the last minute and they have a never-give-up attitude, which gives them credit.”
Arsenal ended up sharing the points at the Emirates Stadium in December, a Gerard Deulofeu late equaliser hampering the North London sides surge for the title.
It’s not over till the final second
Regardless of Sunday’s ‘Race for the top four’ clash, Wenger is still adamant that his side can end the season on top of the pile, but would have to rely on other results to achieve what seems to be the impossible.
"There are still a lot of twists and turns in the Premier League until the end of the season and there is no clear favourite.
"We are the outsiders, but if you don't fight for it and you have a result like Crystal Palace against Chelsea, and if we have given up because we don't believe it we would be absolutely 100 per cent guilty."
"You don't want to give up as long as you have a mathematical chance.
Keep Calm and Believe
It’s going to be a tense game up in Liverpool on Sunday, the Gunners facing a tough side in what has now become the biggest game of their season to date. With top four a necessity and a cup semi-final looming, fans are hoping that the pressure does not get to the side.
Everton will be without captain Phil Jagielka and speedster Steven Pienaar, but are boosted with the news that wonder kid Ross Barkley will be fit to face Arsenal.
With the stakes high for both teams, expect a cautious game with each time focusing on their defense units heavily.
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