Aaron Ramsey show earns ovation

Aaron Ramsey scored of course. The return of the prince to the Principality had stirred a mixture of pride and trepidation among Cardiff City's fans and their fears that the tyro midfielder, who as a 16 year-old became the club's youngest-ever player before his 5 million pounds move to Arsenal, would do what he has done all season proved justified. He scored twice. His 12th and 13th goals of the campaign are a remarkable return and the 22 year-old was also involved in Arsenal's other strike.

This impressive, hard-fought victory gives Arsenal a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Most definitely, they are contenders for the title.

"No, I would not believe it, no," said manager Arsene Wenger afterwards when asked whether he thought his team would have achieved such an advantage by the end of November. "Remember we lost the first game at home to Aston Villa and no-one would believe the situation today. That's why we have to keep the level of urgency. Every win makes you stronger." Wenger was also pleased to have increased the pressure on the other title-contenders who all play today.

"We have done our job," he added. Now can the others do theirs? Ramsey's response to his goals was the most muted possible - although he acknowledged the applause of the Cardiff fans as well as those of the travelling Arsenal supporters. For his first goal, Ramsey stole in untracked to guide Mesut Ozil's curling cross beyond Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall with a header. His reaction was so muted it seemed the goal was being ruled out for some unseen infringement.

But it was legitimate and, almost uniquely, the Cardiff supporters broke out in applause for a goal scored by an opposition player. "Fantastic," Wenger said of the home fans' response. "You would like to see that more and I have a big respect for that. They are proud to be Welsh here, you know. He can defend, he can attack, he can score goals and he's young. What more do you want?" More of the same, please.

"He's a class act," said Cardiff manager Malky Mackay who was also defiantly proud of his team. "We were playing against the best and we were certainly not out of our league and that's something that gives me great belief we will be in it next year." That first goal came close to the half-hour and, by then, Arsenal should have already been comfortably ahead. Having scored after just 31 seconds in the Champions League in midweek, the fastest goal by an Englishman in the tournament's history, Jack Wilshere was positively tardy in rattling the angle of the Cardiff City post and crossbar after 70 seconds. He easily shifted the ball to his left foot and curled a fierce shot around Steven Caulker, which beat Marshall but not the woodwork.

There then followed the most extraordinary misjudgment by Olivier Giroud who waited because he thought he would be flagged offside after Ozil appeared to flick the ball on from Wilshere's pass. But the assistant referee's flag stayed down and by the time Giroud realised he could continue, Caulker had recovered and was able to block. Arsenal then should have killed off the contest. Ramsey, superbly, eked out space but lofted a shot over. Giroud's side-footed effort, after Ramsey had danced his way into the area, was hacked off the line by Ben Turner.

Shortly afterwards, Wilshere slid a pass to Santi Cazorla who shot weakly. Cardiff dug in and eventually worked their way back into the contest, showing impressive reserves of organisation and desire. Jordan Mutch hooked a free-kick narrowly wide and then Frazier Campbell, who had earlier flashed an effort across goal, drew a wonderful save from Wojciech Szczesny with a downward header after jumping powerfully. Eventually Wenger aiming to tighten things up, introduced Mathieu Flamini - sleeves rolled up rather than cut off - for Cazorla and a short while later Nacho Monreal for Wilshere.

It certainly ended the contest - but in a more positive manner than had Wenger might have expected with Flamini claiming his first goal since his return to the club. His crisp strike followed another sweeping move involving Ramsey. This time he found Ozil who, pushing the ball forward, picked out Flamini. The substitute's shot was too sharp and powerful for Marshall. This was also the case with Arsenal's final goal.

This time Ramsey broke from his own half and found Arsenal's third substitute, Theo Walcott, who ran forward before returning the ball to Ramsey inside the area. The former Cardiff City man took it in his stride - as he had done all afternoon - and powerfully beat Marshall with a rising drive. At the end there was an ovation from all sides. Ramsey deserved it and so did Arsenal.