Wenger Hails Improvement of Arsenal Match-Winner

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the improvement of Aaron Ramsey who scored twice to help send the Gunners seven points clear at the Premier League summit with victory at Cardiff City.

Ramsey flicked home from Mesut Ozil's cross to hand the visitors a half-time lead before the German fed Mathieu Flamini who doubled their lead.

And Ramsey took advantage of Cardiff pushing for a consolation with a third after exchanging passes with substitute Theo Walcott and having taken his season tally to 12, Wenger issues a glowing appraisal of the Welshman.

"It shows you how much Aaron Ramsey has improved," Wenger said following the 3-0 win. "We came here two or three years ago and he had a nightmare here in a cup game, which shows you how much improved he is as a player.

"You are always torn between being happy to score and happy you can win the game, but out of respect for the club where he was educated he didn't celebrate.

"It was a very solid defensive performance that was needed against Cardiff. When you play first [before your rivals] you can only do your job and see what happens after. But if you do your job well you can relax."

Chelsea and Liverpool, who now trail by seven points ahead of their games against Southampton and Hull City on Sunday, must react in order to cut the gap but Arsenal's form is showing few signs of letting up.

Arsenal didn't secure victory without alarm, and needed goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to make a wonder save from Frazier Campbell's header to keep them level before the late double assured victory.

The win comes after Manchester City were beaten earlier in the season by Cardiff and Manchester United were held last weekend, handing Arsenal another significant psychological boost in the title race.

Wenger added: "We take great satisfaction from that game because we have done well at a place where many teams suffer. We kept our concentration and won convincingly 3-0.

"Szczesny produced a save from a header and after that a few legs were a bit jaded but we found a resource in the last 20 minutes it was important not to concede a goal.

"As long as you can keep winning that helps and the confidence level raises. The solidarity is good in the team and that is why we get results."