FOOTBALLDigest D Friday, December 11, 2009 METROSPORT 27 AARON RAMSEY insists he will do his best to give Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a real selection poser. The Wales midfielder pulled the strings for the Gunners in Wednesday nights 1-0 Champions League defeat at Olympiakos. Had it been for better finishing from the clubs strikers, the visitors could have taken at least a point but 18-year-old Ramseys performance still stood out in the absence of regular playmaker, and skipper, Cesc Fabregas. However Ramsey, who signed from Cardiff for 5million in June 2008, is likely to be back on the bench for Sundays Premier League game with Liverpool despite his impressive display in Greece and admitted: I am trying my hardest in games like this, to show what I can do. I also work hard in training as well, so I am just concentrating on what I have to do and then it is up to the manager. I am learning every day, so it was the right move for me to join Arsenal and opportunities like this are good for me and for the young players. u CARLOS VELA has signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners. The Mexico forward, 20, made Arsenal his debut last season and boss Wenger said: Carlos is a fantastic talent and we have already seen glimpses of this during his performances. Aaron gives Wenger a headacheUnder-fire Rafa turns attention to top four Fine form: Ramsey Rafael Benitez has insisted he will now focus on improving liver- pools Premier league form and put all thoughts of the europa league on the back burner. the Reds completed a miserable Champions league campaign with defeat against fiorentina onWednes- day, their third loss in six Group e matches. a third-place finish means liver- pool will now play in the europa league in the new year, but Benitez says his priority will be a top-four domestic finish and Champions league football again next season for the 2005 winners. the Reds boss said: We will take it [the europa league] seriously but for us the main thing is to progress in the Premier league. to be in the top four. We do not play in the europa league until february, so we have plenty of time to concentrate on the Premier league. What has happened to us in the Champions league, the misfortunes, will be an experience the players will remember and it will give them strength and more determination to improve over the rest of the season. liverpool, second in the Premier league last season, are currently seventh and face a tough test against arsenal on Sunday. Benitez added: i hope that a new beginning, a new season, starts for us from this point. now we must concentrate on arsenal. the Spaniard picked out alberto aquilanis full debut as a positive to take from the fiorentina setback. the italy midfielder finally played from the start at anfield in midweek, while Steven Gerrard got 90 minutes and fernando torres returned as a substitute after injury. Benitez said: Gerrard is getting more games under his belt, torres looked very positive and aquilani played well and showed quality with his passes. Close to full fitness: Gerrard ALBERTO AQUILANI hopes he can learn from fellow Liverpool midfielders Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano after finally making his full debut on Wednesday night. The Italy international played 76 minutes as the Reds were beaten 2-1 at home by Fiorentina in the Champions League four months after he initially signed for Liverpool. The 25-year-old said: There are very good players here and they can help me. The game was important for the confidence when playing with Steven, Javier and the other players. Reds skipper Gerrard, meanwhile, admitted Aquilani plays like former fans favourite Xabi Alonso. I dont want to tempt fate but hes very similar to Xabi, Gerrard said. Aquilani just glad to get his debut out of the way Picture:Getty soccer pREMIER LEAGUE By dAvId kENNEdy Burnley boss Owen Coyle has dismissed claims his sides dreadful away record is putting pressure on them at home. The Clarets entertain Fulham tomorrow on the back of defeat at bottom club Portsmouth with 16 of their 17 points coming at Turf Moor. Coyle said: There is pressure in every game, home and away, and we have shown we can go toe-to-toe with the very best. We are the smallest town in the league and we have the lowest budget. We have to surpass expectations; before the start of the season we were totally written off. u BOLTON boss Gary Megson insists the clubs positive outlook will help them out of their current rut. Wanderers host Manchester City tomorrow looking to end a run of five premier League games without a win. Megsons men dropped to second- bottom following a 2-1 defeat at Wolves last weekend but he said: The atmosphere is terrific as good as I have ever known at any club, even given the fact we are not on a good run at the moment. At the moment we are not picking results up but it is not because there is a bad atmosphere at the ground. u BIrMInGHAM boss Alex Mcleish has played down reports former Ireland international lee Carsley will leave St Andrews in the transfer window. Carsley, 35, along with fellow veteran Kevin Phillips, 36, has been linked with moves away from Blues after struggling to get games this season. But Mcleish said: There have not been any inquiries for Kevin and lee. The only way we would consider letting guys like that leave is if it was good for them, they are good players. Theyre around the squad just now and are infectious and rub off on the other players. They have still got something to offer. u No inquiries: Carsley JOE COLE insists Chelsea must keep the pressure off Gael kakuta in order to allow the talented teenager to fulfil his potential. kakuta has played three times for the Blues since their Uefa transfer ban for allegedly luring the 18-year-old away from Lens was suspended with his displays winning rave reviews. But Cole, no stranger to pressures of the game at a young age, said: He has a lot of skill and a big future but we need to keep the pressure off him, have him play a game here and there and enjoy his football. u DaRROn GiBSOn has vowed not to waste his first-team chances created by Manchester Uniteds injury problems. the 22-year-old midfielder has played five times in 18 days, scoring three goals in the process, as Michael Carrick and Darren fletcher have been pressed into emergency service at the back. and ahead of tomorrow evenings Premier league encounter with aston Villa at Old trafford, the Republic of ireland international said: Manchester United is the best club in the world. When you leave here there is only one way to go and that is down. the gaffer is famous for giving chances to young lads. Obviously i dont like players being injured but it has given me a chance to prove myself. from not playing at all to playing three games in a week is tough going. But the manager has shown enough trust in me and i feel i have taken my opportunities so far. if you take your chance he sticks with you, so hopefully i will keep getting a few more games. Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and nemanja Vidic should all return for the Villa game. Gibson keen to stake United claim Seizing chance: Gibson RObINHO has insisted he is happy at Manchester City and claims he could stay at Eastlands for the next ten years. The former Real Madrid playmaker continues to be the subject of speculation with suggestions he will move back to Spain with barcelona next year. However the brazil international, who could return for Citys visit to bolton tomorrow after recovering from an ankle injury, has declared moving is not on his agenda. He said: I am very happy at City and I intend to continue playing here for a long time. There will always be speculation but I am very happy and so are my family. I think I will stay five years, ten years I dont know. I love it here and love the fans. I am enjoying playing English football. And Robinho revealed he is intent on winning trophies for City, whose goal is to play in the Champions League next season. I want to be a champion, he added. To finish in the top four would not be bad but we are going to fight for the title until the end. Robinho tells City fans: Im here to stay index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html