Aaron Ramsey waiting to hear why Arsenal withdrew contract offer

The Welshman has not ruled out a move abroad

By Husmukh Kerai

Image: Aaron Ramsey was given the captain's armband for Arsenal's game against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday

Aaron Ramsey says he is still waiting to find out why Arsenal decided to withdraw a contract extension they had initially offered him.

The Wales international is out of contract at the end of the season and had expected to extend his 10-year Arsenal stay after his camp felt a new deal had been agreed with the Gunners hierarchy.

But those talks were shelved after the club withdrew their offer and he is now set to become a free agent next summer, although Arsenal could attempt to cash in on the 27-year-old midfielder in the January transfer window.

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"Hopefully somebody will come up and tell me why," Ramsey told the Evening Standard.

"I'll accept that if there's a reason. When the time is right, I probably will find out but that hasn't happened yet.

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"There is no contract on the table at the moment so there is nothing for me to consider or whatever. We all know that the contract was taken away off the table. I'm not sure exactly why because a few weeks before we sort of agreed and I was ready to sign."

Arsenal should be targeting a top-four finish in the Premier League under Unai Emery with the squad he has at his disposal, says Stephen Warnock.

Ramsey captained Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League on Thursday but has started the Gunners' recent Premier League fixtures on the bench.

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"I think any player who is on the bench would be disappointed not to play but I'm part of the team and I want the team to do well," he added.

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"We are all in it together to try and achieve the same objective. I'm going out and playing the way I have always played. I try to give my best for the team, help the team and try and go out there and play the best I can for myself as well. Nothing's in my head when I'm out there; I'm just trying to have fun on the football pitch.

Image: Unai Emery has said Ramsey's future at Arsenal is not his biggest priority

"These things happen in football and I'm just concentrating on playing now. I'm not really thinking about anything else too much. I've got other things as well in my life that I'm delighted with. I had twins last week, so everything is good at the moment for me. I can't complain … It has been a very positive run.

"In a lot of the games we've found it difficult in the first half but we come out then strong in the second half and we've blown some teams away."

Ramsey was also asked about where he could play in the future and did not rule out a move abroad, but did state categorically he would not join north London rivals Tottenham.

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