Almunia: Ramsey 'Very Similar' To Fabregas

After an impressive season for Cardiff City, during which he helped the Bluebirds to the FA Cup final, Ramsey snubbed the likes of Manchester United and Everton to join Arsene Wenger’s young Gunners this summer.

The 17-year-old has earned rave reviews already during the pre-season. He demonstrated his vision and passing range to great effect during the first half against Barnet recently, giving credence to Wenger’s claim that the youngster’s future lies in central midfield.

The Arsenal manager also hinted that it will not be long before Ramsey makes the step up to the first-team, although it would seem he would have to displace Fabregas – perhaps Europe’s best young playmaker – for that to happen.

But as far as Almunia is concerned, if anyone is going to step in for his fellow Spaniard, then there are few more suitable candidates than Ramsey.

“Aaron is a very good creator of chances, very similar to Fabregas,” the 30-year-old goalkeeper told the press.

“But of course we must remember that he is still very young and he has to learn from people like Cesc, Abou Diaby and the rest of the players that have been here for more time.”

Almunia - No excuses for failure

Manuel Almunia has warned his team-mates that 'there can be no excuses' if Arsenal fail to last the distance in the Premier League title race next term.

The Gunners, without silverware since 2005, ended the season in third despite leading for much of the campaign.

And goalkeeper Almunia admits next season could be the making or breaking of an Arsenal side that has steadily matured over recent years.

"The season may not have ended very well for us, but this was the year to push us for better things," Almunia told the club's official website.

"Next season there can be no excuses not to fight for the Premier League until the end of the season.

"We need to be at the top for the whole season, not only at the beginning or the middle - and that is in all competitions as well."

Almunia faces Friday fitness test ahead of Reading game

Arsène Wenger will wait on the fitness of Manuel Almunia before deciding his squad for the weekend game with Reading.

The Arsenal keeper injured his wrist a week ago tomorrow and missed the 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford the following Sunday. The Spaniard is well on the way back to fitness but he will face an assessment on Friday morning. Apart from that, Wenger has Denilson back after a hamstring problem but will be without Justin Hoyte for a similar reason. Bacary Sagna, Mathieu Flamini (both ankle) andTomas Rosicky (hamstring) are all still missing.

"The injury situation is that no-one is available from Sunday apart from Denilson," said Wenger on Thursday. "We have lost Justin Hoyte who had a little bit of a hamstring. But as for the rest no one is back.

"Maybe Manuel Almunia will be available, I don't know. I will make a decision on Friday morning. He got injured in training on the Friday before Manchester. We sent him for a scan and there was an inflammation so he could not play.

"But Flamini is not back, Sagna is not back and Tomas Rosicky is out."

Anfield factor can inspire us - Almunia

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia believes the unique atmosphere generated on European nights at Anfield can spur his team on to Champions League success against Liverpool.


“For me the [Anfield] Atmosphere is the best in the world,” Almunia said in the Sunday Mirror. “I like playing there.”

The Spaniard is drawing inspiration from last season when Arsenal won twice at Anfield with big victories in the two domestic cup competitions.

“Liverpool are great in the Champions League but Arsenal aspire to be great as well. If you are going to be that kind of team then you have to be playing well in stadiums like Anfield,” added the shot-stopper.

There will be a strong Spanish flavour on show at Anfield and Almunia is confident that The Gunners will score at this footballing cathedral, and he is already prepared for the threat posed by his fellow-countryman Fernando Torres.

“I know Torres from Spain where I played against him a couple of times but he is playing better in England because he has a great team behind him.”

I'm always happy to play against Liverpool, confident Arsenal keeper Almunia plans to stay unbeaten against Reds

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is relishing the club's Champions League quarter-final tie with Barclays Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Tonight, Almunia faces a Liverpool team against whom he has an exemplary record and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez needs no reminding that his Spanish compatriot has met his team four times and is yet to finish on the losing side.

Benitez has spent the last few days plotting the downfall of Arsenal but Liverpool's Champions League-winning manager has learned that there are some problems for which you simply cannot legislate. Almunia, for instance.

The Liverpool coach knows that an impressive goalkeeping performance can reduce the best-laid plans to tatters - and Almunia has saved some of his finest displays for the Merseysiders.

His three wins and a draw against Liverpool include victories at Anfield last season in the FA Cup and Carling Cup.

"We invariably score at Anfield so that is a good sign for the second leg," he said.

Indeed, Benitez does not seem to have much luck at all when Almunia is around.

"My first club was Osasuna and Rafa was the coach back in 1996," recalled the Arsenal goalkeeper. "Although I started in the 'B' team he coached me quite a lot. It was not a lucky time for him. There was no indication then that he would be so successful because the team was nearly relegated and he got sacked."

"I love playing Liverpool," he said. "I'm always happy to play against them, especially at Anfield."

Almunia has kept six clean sheets in seven Champions League appearances this season and hopes to further improve that record when Arsenal bid for a place in the semi-finals before a capacity crowd at Emirates Stadium tonight.

Until this season, he was regarded as Lehmann's understudy.

"I was very patient, waiting for my chance," he said.

"Waiting at Arsenal is easier than waiting at most other clubs. The training ground, the facilities, the way they look after you - it makes working a pleasure.

"But at a club like this, where competition for places is so strong, you have to learn to look after yourself. I have learned and I am more mature because of it. I have improved as a goalkeeper and I'm now confident of my position in the team.

"I have also learned the secret of playing for a big club like Arsenal. It is anticipation, making the right decision at the right moment."

Indifferent League form has probably cost them the title, leaving the Champions League a more realistic target. "If one or two players slip below their best maybe it's okay but if four or five are down then you have a problem," he said. "Cesc Fabregas played one of the best games I've seen from him in Milan but it's difficult to maintain that kind of level.

"Everyone was 100 per cent that night in Milan and if we repeat it we can win the Champions League this season. At our best we're good enough. The most important thing at the moment is not to concede a goal tonight. We'll score at Anfield. We always do."