Wenger backs Ramsey to bounce back stronger

Arsene Wenger is confident Aaron Ramsey will bounce back from his broken leg a better player.

The Wales midfielder is available for Saturday’s meeting with Sunderland after more than a year out after suffering the injury as a result of a tackle from Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross.

Ramsey’s return – after loan spells regaining fitness at Championship sides Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City – could come at just the right time with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott all missing.

“It feels good to have him back because it happened one year ago basically, his injury. He had to be very patient and he must feel himself very good to be back,” Wenger said.

“He has dealt with it very well. Certainly he has been very down for a long period but on the outside signs he has shown he is always highly motivated and determined to work hard.”

“When you have a big injury before the age of 20 normally you come back and you develop normally. That is why the big question mark about him was whether he would be back fully fit physically. That is now sorted out in a positive way and the rest is just a question of playing games.”

“He is a young boy at 19 years old and you expect him to be stronger. When he will be really back on the competitive side of the game he will be stronger.”

Arsenal recovered from last weekend’s disappointing 2-1 Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham with a 5-0 FA Cup fifth-round replay win over League One side Leyton Orient.

Wenger thinks this can still be a fruitful season for his charges.

“This team is for me top quality and hungry for success. We promised ourselves to give absolutely everything until the end of the season and that is what we want to do and that is what we will do,” he said.

Wenger has a number of injury worries ahead of the clash. Defenders Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Laurent Koscielny (hamstring) are injured while, in midfield, Alex Song (knee), Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Theo Walcott (ankle) and Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) are also missing.

In attack, Robin van Persie will miss out because of the knee ligament injury he picked up against Birmingham last weekend.