It’s a devastating site to see any player, especially a promising 19-year-old youngster, writhing in agony as others look away in horror.

But after numerous replays of Aaron Ramsey’s tragic coming together with Ryan Shawcross, it’s difficult to see how it was a deliberate and malicious attack by the Stoke City player.

Considering the extent of the injury that could have left Ramsey’s career in the balance, it’s understandable for Arsene Wenger, in the heat of the moment, to go off on one as he usually does, lambasting the culprit and claiming there is a conspiracy against the Gunners.

 

But he must remember that a few weeks a go, William Gallas made a horrific tackle - which was malicious - on Bolton’s Mark Davies and it could easily have ended up just as badly as Ramsey’s injury. Afterwards Wenger was very dismissive of the incident.

Perhaps Wenger is entitled to see it as more than a coincidence two years on from Eduardogate. But once he has had time to think about it he’ll look at the bigger picture because unlike two years ago, when his side’s title challenge crumbled following Eduardo’s brutal injury at Birmingham, Arsenal remain very much on course.

It would be a mistake for anyone at the Emirates to think they are owed the title for Ramsey’s sake. Of course they should do it for him, themselves and the fans but they can’t afford to let the affair go to their heads.

They were pretty naïve two years ago but their 3-1 victories over Stoke and Burnley would seem to suggest that they are prepared to concentrate on the football this time round.