Ian Wright: Aaron Ramsey within his rights to snub Piers Morgan

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Aaron RamseyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Aaron Ramsey transferred to Arsenal from Cardiff City for £5m in June 2008

Arsenal great Ian Wright says midfielder Aaron Ramsey was within his rights not to shake hands with TV personality Piers Morgan.

Gunners fan Morgan revealed Ramsey snubbed his offer of a handshake after Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea.

Morgan has previously described Ramsey as a "liability" but Wright said the Wales international had proved his critics wrong.

"It must have got to him," Wright said.

"He's [Ramsey] a quiet, unassuming man and just gets on with his job.

"Piers was pretty vitriolic. He's very vocal about Arsenal and I thought Aaron was well within his rights."

Tweeting after Arsenal's goalless draw against Chelsea, former Daily Mirror editor Morgan referred to Ramsey as "Whatshisname" and said: "Just bumped into Whatshisname. Offered him the hand of peace... but he declined. Fair enough."

The Wales midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season at Arsenal in 2013-14, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances.

Although not quite hitting the same heights this campaign, Ramsey has still contributed nine goals so far for the FA Cup finalists.

Wright - the second highest scorer in the Gunners' history - feared the Welshman would not fulfil his potential at the Emirates.

Media caption,

Aaron Ramsey's quickfire confessions

But he feels the 24-year-old midfielder has become one of the best players in the Premier League and can help inspire Wales to qualify for the Euro 2016 finals.

"I think it's no coincidence Wales are doing so well and looking like they'll qualify," Wright told Radio Wales Sport.

"To me Ramsey is one of the top players in English football, without a shadow of a doubt.

"There was a time when I thought it wasn't going to happen for Aaron, it didn't seem to click for him and people were losing patience with him.

"There were a lot of flicks, a lot of losing of the ball, and it wasn't just wasn't quite happening for him.

"But when it did click we just saw, for me, a world-class player."

Ramsey scored 16 goals for Arsenal in the 2013-14 season despite being sidelined for three months because of injury.

Wright, who netted 185 times in 288 Gunners appearances, told BBC Radio Wales that national manager Chris Coleman has a team capable of qualifying for the final stages of an international tournament for the first time since 1958.

Wales are currently second in Group B behind Belgium on goal difference, and play the leaders in Cardiff on Friday, 12 June.

Wright says Ramsey, along with Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale and captain Ashley Williams, give Wales real confidence.

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