Arsenal midfielder reveals title race thoughts after Sunderland win

Ramsey is, for once, not on the ever-lengthening injury list for Arsenal

AARON RAMSEY admits the Premier League is going to be very close after Manchester United and Manchester City dropped points to allow Arsenal to jump into second in the table.

 

Joel Campbell had given the Gunners the lead, but Olivier Giroud put the ball into his own net to level things up again.

The Frenchman made amends just after the hour mark, converting Nacho Monreal's cross, before Ramsey hacked the ball home in stoppage time to seal a crucial three points.

The win came in the aftermath of a dreary 1-1 draw at Norwich last weekend, when Arsenal not only failed to win but also lost key man Alexis Sanchez to a hamstring injury, making a win at the Emirates all the more important.

 

"It was important to get back to winning ways, close the gap at the top and it was nice to do it in front of our own fans," said Ramsey.

"Everyone is going to be taking points off each other - it is going to be tight all the way through - and we have to try and make the most of this busy period coming up."

The Welshman, deployed in a deeper midfield role in the absence of Santi Cazorla or Mikel Arteta, will be a key player over the next few weeks, as Arsene Wenger's side face several season-defining fixtures.

 

First, they travel to Greece to play Olympiakos, needing to win well in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Their last game before Christmas will then be at home to title rivals Manchester City, before a tricky trip to Southampton on Boxing Day.

But with so many players sidelined and the squad already stretched to its very limits, making their way through games without further injury will be just as important as winning for Wenger's side as they head into the gruelling winter period.