Aaron Ramsey is Arsenal's no. 1 player, says Martin Keown

Aaron Ramsey the first name on the team sheet says Martin Keown

Former Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes Aaron Ramsey has become one of the Gunners’ most important players and believes he is now the first name on the team-sheet under Arsene Wenger.

Ramsey shone during Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph – their first trophy in nine years. The Welshman grabbed the winning goal in extra-time after Arsenal had gone 2-0 down inside the opening ten-minutes of the clash.

Ramsey has struggled with injuries this season after a blistering start to the campaign, but his timely return at the back-end of the season handed Arsene Wenger a boost.

Keown believes Ramsey has become a pivotal player for the Gunners and Wenger can ill-afford to lose him again next season.

Keown told the Daily Mail: “At 2-0, I was worried for him (Wenger), concerned that his reputation wouldn’t recover from losing such a game. Instead, the team found a way to win and now Wenger is a winner again. That’s what trophies do. People were doubting whether he still had it in him but here was proof that he did.

“I also spoke to Aaron Ramsey, who has without doubt become Arsenal’s No 1 player, the first name on the team-sheet. Last season he was trying too hard at times but the improvement has been vast.

“He refused to accept that Arsenal would lose and kept taking the game to Hull, making runs in behind them again and again. The winning goal was down to his persistence and was a fantastic finish.

“I told him that the game will forever be remembered as the ‘Ramsey Final’ and that he’s gone down in history. He’s scored 16 goals this season and, amazingly, came back from injury playing at the same high standard as earlier in the season.”