Arsenal
midfielder Aaron Ramsay has expressed his determination to give manager Arsène
Wenger the perfect send-off by winning the 2018 UEFA Europa League in Lyon
ahead of his summer departure.
Following his
Friday pre-match press conference for the weekend’s 4-1 win over West Ham
United, it was announced that Wenger would be leaving the club after almost 22
years in charge at the end of the 2017-18 season, one year earlier than first
presumed.
The Gunners’
only taste of silverware since the ‘Invincibles’ secured the 2004 Premier
League has been three FA Cup triumph in the space of four seasons in between
2014 and 2017, and the number of fans wanting Wenger out has dramatically
increased each year.
Despite failure
to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years last
term after finishing fifth in the league, the 68-year-old was handed a two-year
contract which was set to expire in the summer of 2019.
However, now it
has been confirmed that he’ll be stepping down in a month’s time, he and his
players will be as hungry as ever to end another lacklustre season in style with
Champions League qualification through winning the Europa League.
Ramsay has
played a pivotal role under Wenger in recent years and wants Arsenal to get
past two legs against Atletico Madrid in their semi-final clash, the first of
which is on Thursday night at the Emirates Stadium, to proceed to the final and
win it for his boss.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s
test, Ramsay explained: “It's a massive motivation,
to put the emotional side to one side and use it to go on and win this trophy
for him. It's going to be weird next season when he's not here but for now he
is, and we have to finish the season off as strongly as possible.”
Arsène Wenger hasn’t won a single European competition throughout
the whole of his 34-year managerial career which is one of the reasons many
Arsenal fans want him to leave the club, but he is still respected and
considered as one of the greatest this country has ever seen.
“You've seen with the number of fans that turned up on Sunday, and
the noise they produced when they got right behind the team,” Ramsay continued.
“Hopefully they can give him the send-off he deserves.
The Welsh midfield also expressed the squad’s shock at
Wenger’s sudden decision: "We all sort of knew that one day he was always
going to step down as manager, and that day has come and it was a massive shock
to the team.”
"But we have to put those emotions behind us and
use it as motivation as well to finish off the season strongly, and hopefully
we can lift something for him and let the other emotions come in after that
when the season is finished. Then we'll go from there.”
The Europa League Final will take place on May 16 and,
should Arsenal get there, will be Arsène Wenger’s last match in charge; on home
turf winning his first European crown, there’s not many better send-offs you
can think of.
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