Ramsey doubtful for City clash with ankle injury
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, September 11, 2014
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Aaron Ramsey could miss Arsenal's match against Man City on Saturday. |
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey could miss Arsenal's English Premier League clash with champion Manchester City on Saturday after twisting his ankle on a pitch described by Wales teammate Gareth Bale as "the worst I have ever played on".
Ramsey, who has scored in two of Arsenal's three Premier League games this season, limped off in the final minutes of Wales' 2-1 win in Andorra after two goals from Real Madrid's Bale, including a late free-kick, had spared Welsh blushes on an artificial surface at Andorra la Vella described by manager Chris Coleman as "not up to the standard for a UEFA qualifier".
Coleman said: "He got a kick and there was a twist in his ankle. It was coming to the end of the game and it was pointless taking a risk with him.
"Hopefully he'll be OK for Arsenal at the weekend, but we'll have to see what the next 24 to 48 hours hold."
The 23-year-old Ramsey's bright form and ability to score decisive late goals would be sorely missed by Arsenal if he fails to recover in time for the lunchtime fixture at the Emirates in London.
Coleman and Bale were both very critical of the 3G pitch — an artificial surface featuring loose sprinklings of black rubber.
Bale told reporters: "It was by far the worst pitch I have ever played on. I can't describe how bad, bobbly and hard the pitch was to deal with.
"But it's the same for both teams and we said in the changing room before the game, no matter how we get the three points, we get them, and that's what we did."
Coleman said: "When we trained on it, my heart sunk.
"In my opinion the pitch is not up to the standard of a UEFA qualifier, but I don't want to make a protest because I want other teams to come here.
"I didn't want to say anything about the pitch before the game, but I can now and if you're a passing team, forget it."
It was a providential escape for Wales as Andorra had lost its previous 44 competitive games.
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