Arsene Wenger: Arsenal title challenge won't fall apart after Aaron Ramsey injury

Arsene Wenger last night promised Arsenal’s title challenge will not fall apart after Aaron Ramsey’s horror injury.

Two years ago, Arsenal blew a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League after Eduardo suffered a similar broken leg at Birmingham.

But Wenger believes the current squad are mentally stronger and have even been galvanised by Ramsey suffering a broken leg after Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross’s challenge.

Wenger’s men went on to win at Stoke last Saturday despite seeing Ramsey stretchered off and can go top of the Premier League - albeit briefly - if they beat Burnley by four clear goals today.

Arsenal boss Wenger says the players’ huddle on the pitch after the victory at Stoke shows they are determined to ensure history does not repeat itself after the Eduardo injury wrecked their title challenge two years ago.

Wenger said: “The Ramsey incident gives us one more reason to do it and I believe that is what the team did, responding to the situation like that.

“This kind of incident can improve solidarity and I believe that is what it did on the day at Stoke last week.

“It was a hard-fought victory because Stoke are a good team and have shown that before in beating Manchester City. For us, it was a vital victory and has put us in a good position for the rest of the season.

“But the experience we have from this year is that there are no easy games. What looks sometimes easy before the game becomes very difficult during the game. Burnley are fighting against relegation and this could be a very tricky game.

“We have a very good chance and we are in a good position, with Man United and Chelsea, and it is down to how consistent we can be, how much we prepare for this game, how much we turn up and all that will decide our championship.”

But Arsenal already deserve great credit for overcoming the adversity of Ramsey’s shocking injury which clearly left his team mates visibly shaken last Saturday.

This week Ramsey has received an incredible 50,000 messages of support through the club in the form of e-mails, letters and phone calls.

But Wenger yesterday warned that, despite Ramsey expecting to make a full recovery from his broken right leg, the psychological damage may run deeper as it has done with Eduardo who has struggled to regain his best form.

Wenger said: “When you are a football manager you are always scared. If you have the Ramsey injury, you know he will come back. But you never know what the psychological impact on your future game is and that is what you are scared of.

“Some players they put their foot in straight away again and some players are never the same. They lose that little bit of freedom to go into the challenges. Lose just that and you are not the same player.”

Wenger also shrugged off accusations that he does not like the physical side of the game and insisted he “100 per cent“ stands by his comments that Shawcross’s challenge was “unacceptable.”

Wenger said: “I love the commitment of the English game. I don’t want to change that and it makes the game even more attractive. I am 100 percent behind the commitment. But high commitment demands fair intention as well.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has hit back at criticism of Theo Walcott after his display against Egypt on Wednesday night even prompted ex-England winger Chris Waddle to claim he “did not have a football brain.”

Wenger hit back: “I believe Theo will go to the World Cup, I am convinced of that and that he will have a great World Cup as well. He has had a season where every time he came close he got injured again. Now he looks to be completely free.

“He is a very intelligent boy. Not just intelligent, but very intelligent. As a footballer too. I don’t agree with Chris Waddle on that and I am sure he will prove him wrong. He has a good target!"