Seven of Aaron Ramsey’s best moments at Arsenal: FA Cup, Liverpool, Spurs
After spending over a decade at Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey’s time at the Emirates Stadium is nearing its end.
With his summer move to Juventus on a free transfer now confirmed, the Welshman will leave having made over 350 appearances.
While a Premier League title has evaded Ramsey, his time at Arsenal hasn’t been devoid of silverware. He played a crucial role in the three FA Cups won in the latter years of Arsene Wenger’s reign and provided fans will plenty of memorable moments.
The North London derby
The tide was beginning to turn in North London when the two teams faced off in March 2016, but in one of the final derbies at White Hart Lane, Ramsey improvised this special finish to put Arsenal ahead.
The game finished 2-2 in the end, with the dropped points a damaging blow for Spurs as they chased Leicester for the title. The Gunners went on to finish a point above their local rivals come the end of the season.
This peach against Liverpool
Skip to anywhere on this video and chances are you’ll see something special, but this one’s our favourite.
Ramsey seems to have the ball stuck under his feet as it bounces up when he launches this unstoppable rocket into the top corner. Thwack.
Scoring his first hat-trick
Ramsey was voted the fans player of the season in 2017-18 and this hat-trick, his first for the club, sums up why.
“There were three moments in Aaron Ramsey’s season that highlight just how important he has become to this Arsenal team – and point to a player once again at the peak of his powers,” said Gunners fan Rob Kelly on the official Arsenal site.
“The first came in February when he scored his first hat-trick for us, a well-taken treble as we eased past Everton. Here we were seeing a player with a sense of timing and composure in front of goal that is rare in a midfielder.”
On this day in 2008, a 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey signed for Arsenal ✍
Who remembers this hat-trick?pic.twitter.com/IavKhR4wSP
— Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) June 13, 2018
The sweetest of half-volleys
The technique on this.
Oh my, the technique on this. Can you marry a half-volley?
Throwback to Aaron Ramsey's screamer against Galatasaray which won Arsenal's 2014/15 Goal of the Season award. pic.twitter.com/uzfTyFqhqw
— Throwback Arsenal (@ThrowbackAFC) February 11, 2019
Finishing the best team goal of the season
Believe it or not, but it was only four months ago that “EmeryBall” was considered an actual thing.
Things might have since deteriorated since, but when Ramsey finished this lovely move against Fulham – from a move he was instrumental in – it genuinely looked like a fresh new dawn was on the horizon for Arsenal.
🕹 EmeryBall – DELUXE!
⚽ Mission: Instant impact
🎮 Objective: Using Player Two, help start – and then finish – a flowing team move
⏳ Time limit: 40 secondsPRESS TO START pic.twitter.com/rneG8ccaDp
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 10, 2018
Scoring his second FA Cup-winning goal
The last years of Wenger’s time in charge of Arsenal were faintly sad and underwhelming, as they finished outside the top four for the first time with him in charge in 2017 and failed to recapture their Champions League spot the following season.
But that season they also showed an ability to upset the odds, first beating Pep Guardiola’s City in the semis and then Antonio Conte’s title-winning Chelsea in the final.
Arsenal were the better team for the vast majority of the final but allowed Diego Costa to equalise late on. No matter – Ramsey responded with the winning goal just three minutes later.
Ending Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought in 2014
The Gunners hadn’t won a major trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, and Arsenal fans were used to seeing great opportunities fall through their grip (Obafemi Martins, anyone?).
So when Hull took a two-goal lead inside 10 minutes, you could see the inevitable Arsenal Fan TV meltdown coming.
But goals from Santi Cazorla and Laurent Koscielny got Arsenal back into it, taking the game into extra-time.
Just as it seemed like Hull might hold out for penalties, up cropped Ramsey with the 109th-minute winner to ensure Arsenal wouldn’t go a full decade without a trophy.