Aaron Ramsey has become “a scapegoat” at Arsenal for their woes according to Wales team-mate Chris Gunter.

Gunners midfielder Ramsey is a key man for his country with 12 goals from 47 games. But Ramsey, who excelled at Euro 2016 as Wales reached the semi-finals, has come in for flak at his Premier League club.

Ramsey, signed from Cardiff as a teenager in 2008, has scored two FA Cup final winners in three years. But he was heavily criticised after Arsenal’s 4–0 loss at Liverpool on Sunday, a match in which he got subbed off at half-time.

Asked if felt the 26-year-old had a become a scapegoat as Arsene Wenger’s men toil, Gunter replied: “Yeah, I do.

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“I am not sure why. This is a guy who a few months ago was scoring the winner in the FA Cup final and that was two in three years.

“If he is a scapegoat, then good luck to everyone else. People were saying he is too attacking, yet three weeks ago when he came on he was the best midfielder at getting into the box.

“You can’t have it both ways – he is one or the other.

"Aaron was the most important player on the opening day against Leicester when he came on and got them back in the game.

Three weeks ago, sub Ramsey made it 3-3 and Arsenal went on to beat Leicester (
Image:
Reuters)

“Sunday didn’t go that well, but that is football. It seems like everyone has a platform now with social media. But whenever a player is getting criticism, it is amazing that they are the ones who are normally in the team and play every single week.

“There are times when I watch Arsenal and he is their driving force, and it is the same for Wales.

“In Wales, he is massively appreciated and the fans are proud he is Welsh.”

The Welshman also got the decisive goal in May's 3-2 FA Cup final win over Chelsea... (
Image:
Rex Features)
...three years after netting in extra time as the Gunners rallied from 2-0 down to Hull at Wembley (
Image:
Getty)

Gunter rooms with Ramsey on international duty as they know each other from their youth team days at Cardiff, and he insisted his pal is not downbeat.

“I have played with Aaron since Under-12s. A few years ago we met up with Wales on the Sunday night after both playing," he said. “I was playing for Forest and we had lost at home to West Ham 4-1 and that was the day Arsenal lost at United 8-2.

“We got into the room and looked at each other but within 20 minutes when you are around people you are comfortable with you feel better.”

Gunter is set to win his 80th cap at home to Austria on Saturday, and Wales need a win to boost their hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals.

“Regardless of the result on Saturday," he said, "our fans will know they are watching a team that is dying to get to the World Cup.”

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