Aaron Ramsey's shocking injury is a reminder of how fragile a footballer's career can be.
Thankfully, of all the people who have played this game, precious few have had to retire prematurely through injury.
But it does happen and incidents like the one involving Aaron and Ryan Shawcross in Arsenal's 3-1 win at Stoke bring that point home to roost.
Happier times: Ramsey (right) helps Nicklas Bendtner celebrate his equaliser against Stoke
Thankfully, Aaron's broken leg is not career-ending and he could even be back on the pitch before Christmas. I wish him a quick and speedy recovery.
Understanding
The question of what a footballer does do once his playing days end - an issue investigated by Sky Sports News' Life After Footballseries this week - can be a tough one to answer.
The way that Arsenal went on to beat Stoke last week after Ramsey's injury is a measure of what Arsene has been saying this season - his team is growing up.
Andy Gray
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Of course, the modern-day Premier League footballer will be ok financially if his career is cut short for whatever reason, but once you start dropping down the divisions there are often insufficient finances to support players and that's a worry.
There are plenty of players of my era and just after who played in the lower leagues who didn't have enough cash put aside.
It can be very difficult to look beyond football's bubble when you are playing.
There were plenty of occasions during my career when people came to Aston Villa saying 'why not enrol on this degree course, try getting this qualification' - but my sole focus was on becoming the best footballer I could.
These days clubs play a far more active role in encouraging players, especially younger ones, to broaden their horizons outside of football and that can only be a good thing.
There is a greater understanding of how important that is and clubs support those who want to enrol on courses run by the Professional Footballers Association and League Football Education.
From trade courses to hospitality and catering, there is a far greater variety of schemes for players to access these days and I hope the message continues to grow.
Disrupt
Talking of messages, I hope Arsene Wenger comes to realise that Shawcross' challenge on Ramsey was not malicious.
Almost a week on he still seems in unforgiving mood but I don't think Arsene should feel his team is victimised.
Do teams try and upset Arsenal by getting at them? Yes. Do they try to break up play by conceding free-kicks? Absolutely. Why wouldn't they? Do they go out and try to inflict career-ending tackles on players? No.
It is in the interests of Arsenal's opponents to try and disrupt the flow of their play but there is a referee in the middle who knows the laws of the game and is responsible for seeing that the game is played within those laws. That includes deliberate fouls.
I do think teams in the lower reaches of the league go out to upset Arsenal's flow and who can blame them? Why should they go and open up against Arsenal and get beat 5-0 and be told it was a great game?
But of the three incidents Wenger mentioned last week - those affecting Abou Diaby, Eduardo and Ramsey - only Diaby was the victim of a dreadful tackle.
The other two, which I was witness to, were seriously unfortunate. They were incidents that happen in the game but thankfully not very often.
Adversity
The way that Arsenal went on to beat Stoke last week after Ramsay's injury is a measure of what Arsene has been saying this season - his team is growing up.
They are in a much better position to cope with adversity and disappointment. At least twice this season everybody has written them out of the title race and yet they have a chance - goal difference allowing - of going top of the Premier League for a time on Saturday.
Whether that's done to their determination or resolve or the failings of the two teams above them is hard to judge; I suspect it is a bit of both.
Either way they are back in it and if you were offered the run-in Arsenal have you'd take it over those that face Chelsea and Manchester United.
They face Burnley at the Emirates on Saturday before heading to Hull. West Ham, Birmingham and Wolves lie in wait next before two home games against Spurs and Wigan.
Wenger's side face Manchester City at home next before going to Blackburn and finishing at home against Fulham.
Of course, it's one thing to win the league on paper - it's an entirely different thing to go out and win those games. But they will fancy their chances.
Sanitised
Previously I've written that teams such as Chelsea can outmuscle Arsenal - but I don't agree with the view that the Gunners' style of play affects their ability to be physical.
You don't need to be five foot eight or nine to be gifted and talented as footballer; you can still be six foot one or two and above and have deft skill and superb mobility around the pitch. Just look at Thierry Henry in his pomp.
You can't tell me Robin van Persie, who is six foot, looks out of sorts in this current side? For the record, I don't think Patrick Vieira or Emmanuel Petit would either.
However, I do share Roy Keane's sentiments in as much as it seems harder than ever for players to win the ball fairly these days.
Even players who go in with the most perfectly-timed tackle and come out with the ball (but in the process collide with the other player) are penalised more often than not.
I think there are fewer tackles in the game now than there have ever been. People intercept the ball much more than they've ever done and players are better at protecting it.
Whether that's good or bad depends on what side of the fence you stand on; quite often a great tackle can get as big a cheer as a goal.
We have to be very careful with what we do in the game. I don't want it to be sanitised to the point where we have 'footballing-basketball'; that would not be very pleasing on the eye.
Comments (30)
Mark Shevill (Manchester United fan) says...
@ Jose: Shawcross' tackle was not off his feet. He stood up and put in a solid and well-meaning attempt to get the ball. Yes it was late because Ramsay got to the ball first but if Bendtner hadn't stopped Shawcross from getting to the ball then Shawcross would have cleared the ball and wouldn't have been near Ramsays leg. Also i feel that if Aaron's leg didn't break then Shawcross would have deserved a yellow card. For the late high tackle, but actually only got sent off because of the severity of the injury not the tackle itself and i do believe there's no law that says you must be sent off if accidents happen!!! Arsenal fans are most likely not going to agree with this but there have been far worse (higher and later) challenges this season than Shawcross' but they've gone unpunished. Also the Arsenal fans are talking like they've lost one of their most influential players...they did the same when they lost Eduardo. Get a grip. Eduardo was nothing more than a fringe player then, scored 7 goals for the club before he got injured and Ramsay is the same. Don't get me wrong he has looked very good this season but he was hardly playing week in week out and wasn't AS influential as Arsenal fans are trying to suggest.
Posted 15:36 9th March 2010
Kangavve Robert (Arsenal fan) says...
it was unfortunate for a young player like Rmsey to get injured in a reckless tackle.British football must be modernised to the standard of Spanish Laliga and Serie A.Physical games in premier is far beyond necessary.And Shawcross in that match had an intention of loosing a ball but not a leg...change is needed and strct laws in the game.
Posted 15:10 9th March 2010
Jose Bates (Arsenal fan) says...
It is clear from the responses that very few Man U supporters actually focused or responded on the isue at hand and rather took the opportunity to have swipe at Arsenal football club. Why? Very sad as I think it is a very important topic that could tarnish the game we all so dearly love. In my opinion there was no intent, but the tackle was late high and he was off his feet. Surely that deserves a red card. If not please enlighten me. Should it matter which team the player plays for that got injured. What would you reaction be if you have 3 similar injuries in your team???
Posted 12:08 9th March 2010
Sounak Mukherjee (Arsenal fan) says...
@Patrick: "when men were men and no complaints from players just got up and kept playing"---Don't you think it would have been a little difficult for Ramsey to get up and continue playing with one leg hanging in two pieces and also it would have been a gruesome site for everybody! I hope you will understand and not make ridiculous claims from the past!
Posted 10:40 9th March 2010
Paul Collins (Arsenal fan) says...
people keep bringing gallas up, erm yes he did wrong and should have gone in fairness but it was not as bad as what shawcross did. davies was back in 10 days as wenger pointed out, ramsey is gone for a year so how is that worse than shawcross? i think what wenger wants is for refs to start giving any silly little fouls in the middle of the park. fair enough if its an advantage thats near the other teams goal but had the ref blown for a minor foul just before then shawcross wudnt have done what he did and ramsey would be fine. thats the protection arsene means just like you get with utd. any team fouls them they get booked or pulled back for warning we dont. he doesnt mean completely ban teams from fouling them just any silly little fouls that could temporarily disrupt play and have to get the tempo going again like they do in spain. do that n youd never see another broken leg in this league again
Posted 02:28 9th March 2010
Chris Dowling (Newcastle United fan) says...
I'm sick of hearing arsene wenger and arsenal fans complain about their team being victimised! All that is said is that they play great football (which cannot be disputed) but teams just have to roll over and take it or Mr Wenger doesn't like it! Very short memories these fans and Wenger have considering the days of viera, adams, keown, petit, when many red and yellow cards were given to them. The shawcross tackle was not intentional or malicious only mistimed by a split second which resulted in the unfortunate injury of aaron ramsey (who everyone wishes a speedy recovery too). Everybody connected with arsenal, players, manager and fans need to understand that the only way some teams can stop arsenal is through being a bit more 'rough' but if they ever want to win anything again they will need to deal with it and stop moaning as it makes them even easier targets!
Posted 17:48 8th March 2010
Henry Ellis (Arsenal fan) says...
Peter Mander - you are talking a load of rubbish. How can you dare say the leg break incident was Bendtner's fault. That is moronic!!! Was there intent? No. Ryan didn't get there because Ramsey was quicker than him. SIMPLE!! He had to see red as it was a misjudged tackle (as he didn't touch the ball) So don't go blaming Nicklas, it was an accident
Posted 16:06 8th March 2010
Patrick O'connor (Manchester United fan) says...
i watched man. utd & liverpool FA Cup final 1977 on a satalitte channel and the tackles were flying but hard and fair the ref hardly stop play for frees and hardly a yellow card. the good old days when men were men and no complaints from players just got up and kept playing. not like todays players moaning and groaning and diving they would be kicked of the field if the played with martin bucan, souness etc
Posted 12:32 8th March 2010
lewis Davies (Manchester United fan) says...
How can Arsenal fans moan about the Shawcross tackle when a few weeks ago Gallas' tackle on Mark Davies (which was worse then the Shawcross tackle) went completley unpunished...not even a freekick!!!
Posted 10:00 8th March 2010
Peter Mander (Stoke City fan) says...
lets face it the ref did not even give a foul but a throw in, what get my goat is shawcross would have got to the first if bendtner had not cynicley pulled him back when he was in control of the ball. why is it ryans fault look at the foul bendtner pull him back in full flow then hold his hands up when the challege goes in i blame him but because he is an arsenal player this is overlooked. i think bendtner missed all those goals on saturday against burnley because it is playing on his mind even to have the audacity to ware a get well soon tee shirt when he is to blame come clean bendtner then your concounce will be clear. i used to like arsenal but they have shown what a dispicitable lot they really are and wont win the title as wenger has got it in his players head that they will get hurt on the pitch in world cup year so they will not commit look at walcott on saturday. wenger will cost them the title.
Posted 09:39 8th March 2010
Rob Williams (Manchester United fan) says...
It's not so long ago Utd had the same problem with the opposition. When the Utd fixture came up it was like the cup final but Utd had the strenght and determination to over come this. Arsenal can complain all they like about the way teams play them but if they wish to remain at the top they have to use there football to do the talking and not the press. Hope your back playing soon Aaron.
Posted 08:10 8th March 2010
Korede Owolabi (Arsenal fan) says...
I agree with you Naren Patel but just to add. I still do not understand how a million people out there still call what Shawcross did a "tackle". Looking at it over and over again it was just an aimless swing at what was meant to be the ball that turned out to be Ramsey's leg. I mean at that point on the pitch ie - ( In Arsenals half ) I still do not understand why he had to swing his leg that hard that he break two bones through a chin pad. Nevertheless I don't think people should sit down to defend what Showcross did because he is an English lad. The psychological magnitude of what he has done will never make Ramsey the same player again just as Eduardo hasn't been his old self.
Posted 05:59 8th March 2010
Graham Scofield (Arsenal fan) says...
It is unfortunate, but inevitable, that when a team retains possession for much of the game, like Arsenal, it invites frustration from the opposition. Being quick and alert to tackle and win the ball fairly, which is fine, too often degenerates into winning the ball at all costs. This, combined with a mentality, from the very start of the game of a physical approach to counter such possession, leads to these injuries. A different footballing approach by opposition management would be welcomed, but this is a big money business, so is unlikely. It's sad, but if good football is to be encouraged, we must rely on the referees.
Posted 05:05 8th March 2010
Ashish Arora (Arsenal fan) says...
Hi, I am a very big arsenal supporter , the only thing that i want to add is that wen other teams play us they have no intension of hurting players but they are tackling so many times in the match that at any moment of time the tackle can go wrong and can lead to such injuries,I dnot have stats to prove it but the most fouls would be against Arsenal.
Posted 03:35 8th March 2010
Anthony Henderson (St Mirren fan) says...
Firstly I believe that shawcross tackle wasnt ment to injure but it was wild and uncontroled which can be just as bad. If he loses a ball he can throw his whole weight into a tackle to try and get it back thats how the injury happened. It was a mistake but a costly one for a boy and i repeat, a BOY to lose out on a massive part of his career and development due to someone else being wreckless. Second addressing what malcolm the doncaster fan said about fabregas at the end, if you watch he is kick about 6 times in the last 10mins you didnt mention that. And how about we put you on a football pitch and hav the entire opposing team kick you for 90min bet you kick back before he did.
Posted 22:40 7th March 2010
Liam Collins (Barnsley fan) says...
Some of the comments are marked by lack of intellectual acuity. Shawcross made a mistake which he was sorry for Ramsey was unfortunate and if i was Arsena Wenger i would moan all day and every day till these referee's protect my players. To complain about arsenals tackling has no foundation and dare i say i would even look past a Arsenal Player breaking another players leg just because of what happend to Eduardo, Ramsey and Diaby.
Posted 21:43 7th March 2010
Shay Smith (Arsenal fan) says...
though it unfortunate a young talented footballer was at the recieving end of politics of so call rough premier league tackling. if british politics and it's social accessories can be redefine why not old fashion of playing football and method of tackling like rugby model must be faced out and it's high time for english football to embrace modernisation which is the difference between top big four and the rest of the premier league teams.
Posted 20:17 7th March 2010
Chux Anusiem (Arsenal fan) says...
The word, INTENTION or MALICIOUS should not be focused on so much in this issue. To me, it's almost non existent to see a challenge made with the intention of causing career stopping injury. I rather feel that most of such horrendous tackles are bourne out of recklessness. The physicality of football is good and should be retained. However, I can see that a lot of English folks prefer physicality to skill and technique. I've been following the comments of fans, analysts, managers etc and the result? ENGLISH/BRITISH MANAGERS AND ANALYSTS are ok with Shawcross challenge, FOREIGN MANAGERS are not. ENGLISH/BRITISH NON-ARSENAL FANS are ok with the challenge. Well, it appears people have not noticed the direction of football (SKILL is taking over: Spain and Brazil). Barcelona cannot ply their trade in England. Messi, Iniesta and Xavi can't thrive in England. Fabregas is right to indicate that he is a lucky man. England should make just a little adjustment to allow modern football lest the world would leave them behind with their old fashioned style.
Posted 19:15 7th March 2010
Tom Nolan (Manchester United fan) says...
Fabregas was very dirty at the end.maybe he knew he would get away with it because the referee was rattled.the arsenal conduct has been questionable to say the least.this moaning is all aimed at refs because now arsenal will get 85%+ decisions in the run-in & that's not at the emirates!.
Posted 17:29 7th March 2010
Tom O'sullivan (Manchester United fan) says...
Arsenal are just as dirty as the teams they criticise.
Posted 17:19 7th March 2010
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