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Aaron Ramsey chooses first FA Cup win as favourite Arsenal moment

Aaron Ramsey chooses first FA Cup win as favourite Arsenal moment
© Reuters
The Wales midfielder has spent 11 years with the club and scored the winning goals in two separate FA Cup finals.

Aaron Ramsey broke down in tears on the Emirates Stadium pitch as he bade an emotional farewell to Arsenal.

The Wales midfielder will join Juventus when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing down the curtain on an 11-year stay in north London.

Ramsey, 28, has been absent recently with a hamstring injury which meant his playing days with the Gunners ended when he was forced off during the 1-0 Europa League quarter-final win in Napoli last month.

Signed from Cardiff in 2008, Ramsey would go on to become Arsenal's highest-scoring midfielder of all time – hitting two FA Cup final winning goals in 2014 and 2017.

After receiving a guard of honour from his team-mates following a 1-1 draw with Brighton, Arsenal's final home game of the campaign, Ramsey was presented with a memento by club chairman Sir Chips Keswick.

He then broke down as he stood next to Petr Cech, who is retiring at the end of the season, before giving an emotional television interview.

Aaron Ramsey, left, and Petr Cech applaud the Arsenal fans
Aaron Ramsey, left, and Petr Cech applaud the Arsenal fans (John Walton/PA)

"Obviously it's very emotional, it's been a hell of a journey," he told Sky Sports.

"Eleven years of my life, so much has happened in that, when I look back. You can tell by my voice how much it means to me.

"I'm just grateful for the opportunity to play for this great club and spend so many years.

"I spent 11 years here, I came here 17 years old – a boy – and I'm leaving a man. I've got a family, my wife, my kids, so much has happened, I'm just grateful for the opportunity here.

"Obviously I'm really excited for the new challenge and new chapter in my life (at Juve) but today it's all about this.

"This is where I grew up here, I just want to take this in today and let it settle in for a few more days before I can really look forward and concentrate on that."

Ramsey highlighted his first FA Cup final goal, an extra-time winner against Hull which ended Arsenal's nine-year run without a trophy, as his favourite memory.

Aaron Ramsey, centre right, scores Arsenal's 2014 FA Cup winner against Hull
Aaron Ramsey, centre right, scores Arsenal's 2014 FA Cup winner against Hull (Peter Byrne/PA)

"The FA Cup win against Hull has to be the favourite because we'd gone a few years without winning the trophy," he said.

"I'd been playing really well that season until Christmas time when I got injured, and I had a few setbacks as well and it was really gutting, but then to come back and get a couple of games then to cap it off with a win in the final, that meant a lot."

Ramsey can also now look forward to returning to playing Champions League football with a Juve side who recently won their eighth successive Serie A title.

"I am going to club that's playing in the Champions League, and playing with (Cristiano) Ronaldo," he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo in action for Juventus
Ramsey is looking forward to linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin (Martin Rickett/PA)

"And that's going to really sink in now so I can get my head around that in the next few weeks and really look forward to that challenge."

Cech paid tribute to his team-mate, saying his departure would be a "big loss" for the club.

"I think when he came from Cardiff nobody really knew how great a player the club brought in and I think he gave everything he could all those 11 years," said the goalkeeper.

"It's really a shame that today he couldn't be on the pitch, because, everything he has done for the club, he would have deserved to be on the pitch today and maybe the score would have been better."


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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37312491226995
2Liverpool37297187226594
3Chelsea37218863392471
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs372311365372870
5Arsenal372071070502067
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd37199965521366
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37169124744357
8Everton37158145244853
9Leicester CityLeicester37156165148351
10Watford37148155155-450
11West Ham UnitedWest Ham37147164854-649
12Crystal Palace37137174650-446
13Bournemouth37136185365-1245
14Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37119173848-1042
15Burnley37117194465-2140
16Southampton37911174464-2038
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3799193456-2236
RCardiff CityCardiff3794243269-3731
RFulham3775253477-4326
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3736282175-5415

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