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Chris Coleman questions Arsenal decision to play Aaron Ramsey ahead of Wales qualifier

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Chris Coleman (L) celebrate with the Aaron Ramsey (R) of Wales after the Euro 2016 qualifying footb
Image: Chris Coleman (left) will be without Aaron Ramsey for Wales' opening World cup qualifier

Chris Coleman has questioned why Arsene Wenger selected Aaron Ramsey in Arsenal's Premier League opener, with the injured midfielder now ruled out of Wales' World Cup qualifier.

Ramsey played in Arsenal's 4-3 Premier League defeat to Liverpool on August 14, having only been back in training for two weeks after helping Wales reach the semi-final of Euro 2016. 

The midfielder suffered a hamstring problem which is expected to keep him out for around a month, meaning he will miss Wales' tie against Moldova on September 5

Wenger allowed Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny extra time to recover after their involvement at Euro 2016, and Coleman believes only Arsenal can answer why Ramsey was treated differently. 

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at
Image: Ramsey was injured in Arsenal's 4-3 opening weekend defeat to Liverpool

"I think we all expected Aaron to (miss the start of the season), so I don't know what happened between then and when he ended up on the pitch," said Coleman.

"Obviously only Arsenal can answer that.  "I think, to a man, if you were looking at that (team-sheet), it was a bit of a surprise he started. I think Aaron said himself (in France) that he wasn't expecting to.

"If you look at his physical stats, they are higher than anybody on the pitch in terms of his high-intensity sprints and the kilometres he covers. But he's still a human being, and it's not like we were knocked out in the group stage.

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"It was a long tournament for Aaron, after a long, hard season. So I don't know why he was treated differently." 

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Coleman has previously accused Wenger of "a cheap shot" after the Frenchman blamed Wales for Ramsey suffering a hamstring strain in a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich - a week after he had played for his country.

Wenger said Wales could have rested Ramsey for their final Euro 2016 game against Andorra after securing qualification, but Coleman argued there had been no contact from Arsenal and he took that as a "green light" to play him.

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"I think Arsenal have a certain way of doing things," said Coleman. "A lot has been said about their injury list, they're doing the same things now as what they've always done - they're not going to change now.

"That's up to them, Aaron is Arsenal's player. But I've got to say that I'm disappointed because we've lost a great player - and I think anyone would understand that disappointment.

"I'm not going to say, 'In hindsight', because I'm doing a job myself and I make decisions and sometimes look back and think I shouldn't have made that decision.

"So I won't use that against Arsenal. Could it have been prevented? Possibly, yes. But the fact is we haven't got him, unfortunately."

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