Aaron Ramsey has had successful surgery undertaken on his shattered right leg. The 19 year old suffered a broken fibula and tibia after a crude challenge from Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross in the 69th minute of the Gunners 3-1 win at the Britannia Stadium. Shawcross received a straight red card for the career threatening tackle on Ramsey, as Arsenal grabbed three points to keep them in touch at top of the Premiership.

 

 

 

 

 

Under fire
Nicklas Bendtner levelled after Danny Pugh gave the home side the lead. Cesc Fabregas scored from the penalty spot after Pugh’s handball and Thomas Vermaelen grabbed Arsenal’s third goal for a well-deserved win. However, Stoke have come under fire from Arsene Wenger for their rough physical approach, which has resulted in Ramsey now missing the rest of the season. Potters manager Tony Pulis defended Shawcross saying that his player has   “ no bad blood in him,” but you would expect him to say that wouldn’t you, as you would expect the Stoke players to also come to their team mate’s defence.

Form
Well, enough is enough.The Premier League and referees have to act. Wenger was right to assert that the three-match ban that Shawcross now receives is not enough. Make no mistake about it, Shawcross has got form. Remember his crunching challenge on Abou Diaby last season, when way out by the throw in line as the ball was about to go out? It was vicious, vindictive and nasty, and those three words sums up perfectly the way Pulis has got his side to play. Stoke work on an anti-football formula, based purely on Rory Delap’s long throw ins – which other ground has little towels on hand purely for Delap to wipe the ball with when he prepares to take a throw-in ? Their brand of thuggery is what is wrong with football, but seems to keep the high levels of noise from their misguided support. And why wouldn’t it? Stoke can never expect to be a top side, but by setting out their stall to stop tops sides from playing is what Pulis is all about.

Sinister
If Shawcross is not a dirty player, then his manager has to take the blame for Ramsey’s broken leg, as the young defender was following his manager’s game plan. Yes it was sinister, yes it was nasty, but oh yes, it was totally Stoke, and symbolising all that is wrong the game. Pulis needs to get a grip. Since Stoke’s arrival in the Premiership, he has been lucky with results and home form, but he will be found out. That should be a concern to those loyal Stoke fans who must also take their share of the blame for encouraging the rough stuff, when sides like Arsenal just come to play.

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