Aaron Ramsey enjoying anchorman role at Arsenal
Midfielder has played in front of the back four for the last two games
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Your support makes all the difference.Aaron Ramsey is ready to reinvent himself as Arsenal's midfield enforcer after being thrust into the role by manager Arsene Wenger.
Saturday's FA Cup win at Brighton was Ramsey's second successive match playing in front of the Gunners back-four following Wednesday's 5-1 thrashing of West Ham.
Wales star Ramsey, who had spent his entire career as an attacking midfielder, fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium after a succession of unconvincing displays that saw him net only once in almost a year.
But an injury to Francis Coquelin handed the 22-year-old his first Barclays Premier League start since November against West Ham, with Wenger asking him to perform a different role.
And with two victories from two matches as an anchorman, Ramsey now looks set to start Wednesday's crunch clash with Liverpool.
"I think I've played well in the last two games," he told Arsenal Player.
"That's pleasing for me and hopefully I can just keep myself in the team and carry on.
"Hopefully, I get picked for the next game.
"I had a meeting with the boss the other week and he explained to me what's required for this role.
"I think I've done that in the last couple of games and I feel good in myself.
"[I've been] getting stuck in and winning the ball back, been involved a lot more and got a lot of touches of the ball, so hopefully I can continue the form I'm in at the moment."
Ramsey insisted his new role did not prevent him attacking altogether.
"You always have to be wary of the hole you're leaving behind you, but there are occasions when I can get into the box and one of the other midfielders sits," he said.
"I got into the box a couple of times [against Brighton].
"Maybe it didn't break for me but I got forward and Abou Diaby sat. I can still get forward but I'm a bit more restricted as to what I can do."
Arsenal have not needed Ramsey to contribute in the attacking third in the past week.
"That's eight goals now in the last two games, which is pleasing for us," he added, pointing out the three goals conceded over the same period were more of a concern.
"But we will probably go back on the training ground and sort out the mistakes that we made.
"We're growing, our momentum keeps going.
"Hopefully, we can continue that and carry on against Liverpool on Wednesday."
While Arsenal avoided a cup shock this weekend, Liverpool became the latest victims of a giant-killing when they lost at Oldham, checking their recent revival under Brendan Rodgers.
"They've had a big change over the last season," Ramsey said.
"Brendan Rodgers is trying to play some good football and I think they've done well recently.
"We'll be aware of what they're capable of doing and we'll work over the next few days on trying to stop them from playing.
"From our perspective, we'll just carry on playing the way we can and hopefully we can continue scoring many goals."
One man who found his shooting boots in the past week was Olivier Giroud, who netted twice in both the West Ham and Brighton games.
After taking a while to settle, the summer signing from French champions Montpellier now has 13 goals to his name this season.
Ramsey said: "It's great for him so far. It's always difficult coming into the Premier League.
"That's pleasing for him that he's got 13 so far. Hopefully, he can get a few more now towards the end of the season."
PA
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