Van Persie set to sign new contract?

Robin van Persie has revealed that there is a 'big chance' that he will sign an extension to his contract that expires at the end of next season.

Now that Arsenal have reached the semi-finals of two major competitions, both domestically and within Europe, van Persie recognises that Arsenal can fulfil his trophy ambitions.

But what happens if it all amounts to nothing? That Arsenal strive hard but fall short in experience and depth of squad, given their defensive injury list.

Will the dutchman retract his latest positive comments regarding a new deal and flee to an established European club like AC Milan that has failed to qualify for the Champions League this season?

Winning trophies

To be fair to the striker, another trophyless season is likely to unsettle other Arsenal's young stars. Captain Cesc Fabregas is a winner too and will continue to attract the greats in Europe.

To relieve the pressure from this young talented squad, a trophy is in order. But with the prospect of an ebullient Chelsea and resilient Manchester United in these knock-out competitions, Arsenal can not afford to show any weakness in age or fight to get through.

The cost of international friendlies

Olympic Stadium in Berlin

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is the latest player to pull out of the England squad to face Germany at the Olympic Stadium tonight.

The nineteen year old dislocated his right shoulder during training, which is likely to keep him out of club fixtures for several months.

Top premiership managers - such as Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger - have been frustrated by the timing of this friendly, particularly when there are no international competitive matches for four months.

Club versus country

It is this frustration that drives club managers to intervene and withdraw their players from national squads if they show the slightest sign of injury.

Liverpool Football Club, for example, enraged England manager, Fabio Capello and the FA when they scheduled Steven Gerrard to undergo an operation on his groin injury during the World Cup qualifiers in September.

Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez announced that Gerrard had carried the injury for awhile and had just been able to "play through the pain" for a full 120 minutes in the club's Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege.

Incidentally, the two week international break meant Gerrard was able to recover properly without missing significant club football.

Fabio Capello was quick to re-assert his authority as England manager this week when he insisted Gerrard be assessed by the FA's medical staff after the club withdrew him due to injury.

The 'club versus country' debate will continue to swell until FIFA intervene and re-assess the timing and number of games in the fixture list.

‘It’s all about Aaron Ramsey, Aaron Ramsey, Aaron Ramsey’

Wales manager, John Toshack, tried to calm the hype surrounding 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey's debut in the Wales senior side tonight, by saying:

"It's not all about Aaron Ramsey, Aaron Ramsey, Aaron Ramsey".

But Wales captain, Craig Bellamy's flattering comments about the young Arsenal midfielder - saying he "cannot recall as much fuss about a young Wales player since Ryan Giggs" - has not helped to quell the nation's expectation.

Aaron Ramsey has already proved that he can handle this kind of pressure when coming on as a sub in Cardiff's FA Cup final in May earlier this year:

And he has also looked impressive in a string of appearances for his new club Arsenal in the Champions League and Carling Cup this season.

Tenacity

The Welshman's quality of passing has prompted comparisons with the imperious Cesc Fabregas.

But Ramsey's tenacity - his ability to hold off players despite his under-developed physical frame - will prove equally important to his success, particularly in the combative English game.

Injuries have forced Toshack into naming a very youthful squad - half the squad are under 25 - against an experienced Danish set-up in Copenhagen.

There's a great deal of promise from the young Welsh on show, however. Hull City's 25-year-old goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill, has convinced in the Premiership so far and is expected to win his third Wales cap.

Manchester City's 19-year-old striker, Ched Evans, has been handed glimpses of the pressures of the Premiership and is likely to feature alongside captain Craig Bellamy up front.

Some view friendly internationals as the perfect opportunity to blood the youth and see how they handle the pressure.

Rest assured, Ramsey will not disappoint.