by Lewis Ambrose

The summer began with rumours linking Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey with a move to Barcelona.

The rumours were instantly dismissed and came to nothing but they flattered the midfielder, who has now told the Guardian that playing in Spain one day certainly interests him. Ramsey has watched from afar as international teammate Gareth Bale has starred at Real Madrid over the past two seasons. Could he join him?

“Obviously it’s very flattering,” Ramsey said of the links to Barcelona. “They did the treble last year and it’s just really nice to be linked with one of the best clubs in the world.

“One day I would like to go over to Spain to play just to see what it’s like and to experience that. But at the moment I’m with Arsenal and I feel like this Arsenal team can go and be successful and challenge for things.”

There is no doubt that Barcelona are one of the biggest and best clubs in the world, if not the biggest and best. The team is simply incredible and has been for quite sometime but many view Ramsey as a future Arsenal captain. His mind is on the club right now, but how can he be kept in London?

The aim for the Gunners going forward is to be on the same level as the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Achieving that could help the club look to secure the futures of players like Ramsey, who they no longer have to sell for financial reasons. The challenge is to regularly compete at the very top.

Players like Ramsey are needed for Arsenal to do that.