Unai Emery wants Aaron Ramsey’s complete focus on the game

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has urged Aaron Ramsey to place his complete focus on the weekend Premier League game against Crystal Palace rather than being worried about his contract situation. The Wales international presently has just eight months remaining on his existing deal with the north London giants and he has recently admitted that a contract extension is far from certain after the club withdrew the offer previously on the table.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Emery admitted that the Welshman is going through a tricky period with the club yet to sort out his future beyond the current campaign. However, he does not want the midfielder to shy away from the duties on the playing field which remain the main priority, he said: "My focus and his focus I want on the team. It's true that each player has individual contractual situations to speak with the club, but we need, separately, two things.

“"For me it's, and with Aaron it's, very clear - our conversations.“ And also yesterday (Thursday) he played with this commitment, with this behaviour, with the focus to help the team. I am very happy with how he played against Sporting, individually and collectively. I want the same from Sunday and for these matches. Focus on the team and “"focus on being together“ in this situation and then we'll see."

Ramsey had spoken positively about Emery before the start of pre-season and reports had thereafter indicated that the Welshman would commit his future to the club before the beginning of the Premier League campaign. However, more than two months into the season, nothing of that sort has happened, but the Welshman appears committed to the club for the campaign, should there be no breakthrough in terms of a contract extension. The 27-year-old is presently the Gunners’ longest-serving player and he most recently completed one decade of service with the club.