Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey has accepted Ryan
Shawcross did not mean to break his leg - but believes the Stoke
defender wanted to "take him out".
The Wales international has now started the long rehabilitation
process following the incident during the Premier League game at
Britannia Stadium on February 27.
Much has been made of whether there was any intent from
Shawcross in the challenge, and the player has since tried to
contact Ramsey.
The 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder appreciates there was no
malice involves, but feels Shawcross did have enough time to pull
out of the tackle.
Ramsey, speaking to the official matchday programme, said: "I
remember everything, but you just have to get on with things, and
that is what I am doing at the moment.
"I don't believe he wanted to break my leg, but I think he
wanted to go through the ball and me - to take me out and make sure
I felt the tackle.
"He was caught out of position a little, but he could definitely
have changed his mind before making the tackle, realising that he
was not going to get there and so not committing.
"If I was tackling and saw that there was not a chance of
getting to the ball cleanly, I would not make the tackle - and I
don't think there was a chance of him getting there."
Ramsey has not yet been in touch with Shawcross.
"He has left me a voicemail and a text message, but I just want
to concentrate on my recovery for now," he said.
Ramsey is set to take a break in Dubai, and admits he is not a
good patient.
"You don't realise how much you would miss football until you
are not doing it for a long period of time, the days just become
boring, so I can't wait to continue with my recovery and get back
into action," he said.
Ramsey hopes his Arsenal team-mates - who are now also without
injured captain Cesc Fabregas - can go on to win some
silverware.
"What happened was a shock to everyone I think, but they've done
unbelievably well to go back and win that game and they've carried
on ever since," he said.
"Hopefully that will continue - obviously I am very disappointed
not to be out there on the pitch, but I still feel a part of things
and believe I have contributed over the season.
"I want to win the title as much as my team-mates do and
hopefully they can achieve that for all of us."
teamtalk.
