Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey as good as Cesc Fabregas, says Wales coach

Aaron Ramsey has been backed to become as influential at both club and international level as Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas – even though he has yet to play for his country at senior level.

Ramsey joined Arsenal from Cardiff in the summer for £5 million and, on Friday, will be the youngest player in Wales’ Under-21 side for the Uefa Championship play-off first leg against England at Cardiff City’s Ninian Park.

Brian Flynn, a key member of the successful Leeds side of the late 1970s, is in charge of Wales’ teams from Under-17 to Under-21 level and has witnessed Ramsey’s progress from an early level.

“I’ve known him since he was 14 and he can be whatever he wants,” said Flynn. “I see him as a top six Premier League player and a top international player in Europe.

“At this stage I would say he’s as good as Fabregas was as a 17-year-old. He’s moved to London - it’s a big move for a young man – and he and can establish himself in the Premier League.

“And he’s Welsh and he speaks Welsh. He ticks all the boxes. He’s also a good rugby player and a good long distance runner as well.”

Indeed, Ramsey was approached, while playing junior rugby union for Caerphilly RFC, by St Helens, but decided to stay with football and, in the summer, despite interest from Everton and Manchester United, he signed for Arsenal – after manager Arsene Wenger flew the youngster and his family to Switzerland – when Arsenal were on a pre-season tour – for talks.

Ramsey made his debut in the 2-0 Champions League qualifying win over FC Twente, in August, and, a month later, set up two goals in the 6-0 Carling Cup demolition of Sheffield United.

“I am fairly certain that he’s in good hands, with Arsene Wenger,” added Flynn.

“Arsene has a track record of producing huge talents. He’s at a fantastic club and growing up with a very good group of players his age.”

A victory over England at Ninian Park would set the Welsh youngsters up for a nervous return leg so John Toshack has delayed the natural progression of elevating Ramsey to senior level. The senior team play a World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein, at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, but Ramsey will be needed at Villa Park.

Flynn added: “He’s close, he’s very close to senior international football and, with others, he can be a major influence for us. He’s always got time on the ball, he’s got a combination of a lot of things for a midfield player, fantastic energy.

“I’m not being negative but the only thing I’ve not seen from him, from the Under-17 age group, is a natural goalscoring ability.

“He can shoot but I haven’t seen him arrive in the box and get goals inside the penalty box. We encourage him to do that, it’s the one thing I haven’t seen him do so there’s a chink in the armour – or is there? But there’s plenty of time to get that right; he’s still only 17.” (telegraph)