Ramsey's return a big boost for Arsenal

It's rare that Arsenal fans get much in the way of good news when it comes to injuries. When manager Arsene Wenger says a player will be out for "three weeks," eyes roll because three weeks often become six or nine -- or the three remain, but the weeks become months.

So it was a surprise on Thursday when Wenger revealed that Aaron Ramsey is back in training and in contention for a place in the squad that travels to face Everton on Sunday.

Speaking to Arsenal's official website, he said, "Aaron and Nacho Monreal are back training with the squad, so that is good news. Hopefully they will be available for Sunday."

-With all due respect to Monreal, who is a good player, I think most people will have glossed over that part of his quote. There's not much to choose between the Spaniard and Kieran Gibbs, who is playing at left-back right now; there is, however, no doubting that Ramsey brings something to the Arsenal midfield that they have badly missed.

He limped off at West Ham on Dec. 26, and in February, when close to a comeback, he suffered a setback in training. Indeed, Wenger spoke just last week to say Ramsey's return was still a few weeks away, so this news is a nice surprise.

I suspect Ramsey will be eased, rather than thrust, back into action. An appearance from the bench is much more likely than a start, but having him back for the FA Cup semifinal and the remainder of the Premier League campaign is a huge boost for a Gunners side that has appeared to lack something in recent months.

It's not difficult to work out what a large part of that is. The most in-form midfielder in the Premier League has been out of action since December, but he is still third on Arsenal's list of completed tackles per game (with 66) -- Gibbs has made 67, Mikel Arteta 79. Ramsey's average of 3.7 tackles per game remains the best in the squad.

His 13 goals and eight assists have been missed, too, and although other midfielders like Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere have contributed, nobody else has come anywhere close to matching the consistency of the Welshman.

Had Ramsey not suffered the injury, there's little doubt he'd have been in the running for the various player of the year awards. He was a driving force for the Gunners in the opening five-plus months of the season, and it's no surprise they've faltered somewhat without him.

If he can hit the ground running when he does make his comeback, it augurs well for Arsenal to finish the season with a flourish and, hopefully, that trophy they've waited so long for.