It has taken the wider football world some time to wake up to what Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and the whole of Wales already knew. But Aaron Ramsey has now announced his arrival.

Ramsey will be kicking his heels at home as England attempt to win the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden next June.

But should Stuart Pearce's side be successful in Malmo, the chances are they will not have met an opponent as rich in talent and potential as Ramsey.

Wales Under-21 coach Brian Flynn is not using examples lightly when he compares Ramsey to Cesc Fabregas. And some have even suggested the youngster is a better player than Ryan Giggs was at the same age.

Ramsey will need dedication, determination, a willingness to learn and good fortune if he is to achieve anything like the levels Giggs has reached during his stellar career.

However, the early signs are unquestionably good.

Comfortable making short and long passes, happy to take possession when marked, superb at finding and exploiting space, Ramsey has many great attributes.

His magnificent execution of the goal he scored at Villa Park in Tuesday night's 2-2 draw even drew praise from England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce. And he is not yet 18.

"All he has to do to fulfil his potential is continue to do what he is doing at the moment," observed Flynn.

"He has been with me since he was 14. I have seen the way he has developed for the last four years. He will get there, I have no doubt about that at all."

Brought up in the rugby stronghold of Caerphilly, Ramsey was an outstanding prospect with the oval ball before deciding football was where his future lay.

Cardiff quickly snapped him up and manager David Jones brought him on at half-time in last season's FA Cup final at Wembley.

But his stay at Ninian Park was always going to be a brief one.

Moyes wanted Ramsey, United went so far as announcing they had agreed a fee with Cardiff for the player. Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale wanted Ramsey to join the Old Trafford outfit, if only because Ferguson would immediately have loaned the teenager back again to further his education.

But it was Wenger who won the day with a £5million bid and the promise of working with an elite group of young players, among them new England sensation Theo Walcott.

"He is at a very good club," said Flynn.

"Arsene Wenger's record is second to none. I know Aaron is happy there and content with the decision he made."

Ramsey's goal was the main talking point among a near 25,000 crowd at Villa Park but his slide-rule pass to set up Simon Church to put the visitors in front was equally impressive in its simplicity.

It is now almost certain his full international debut for Wales will come in Denmark next month, when he will probably wave goodbye to under-21 football forever.

But the unpalatable truth, as it was with Giggs, is that if Ramsey is to reach the heights, it will be for club, not country.

Arsenal offer Premier League titles and Champions League combat. Wales will likely provide years of frustration and desperate hope of qualification, which ultimately eluded Giggs.

"I saw Ramsey a few times when he was at Cardiff last season," observed Pearce. "He is a better player now.

"I am not surprised Arsene Wenger spent that money on him. He spent £12million on Theo Walcott and that is looking like a shrewd investment now.

"He has a way of bringing on good young players.

"People that can get goals out of nothing, as Ramsey did, are worth their weight in goal."