Arsenal deal proves to be up Ramsey's street

Cardiff gave all three clubs permission to talk to the 17-year-old midfielder after each agreed to meet the £5million asking price but Arsene Wenger has convinced the Wales international that his career will flourish best at Emirates Stadium.

The Arsenal boss flew Ramsey out to Switzerland for talks last week, where he is believed to have assured him that he will get first-team football.

Wenger's track record of developing young talent played a major part in Ramsey's decision and it is only a matter of time before he completes the switch.

In a statement today, Cardiff said: "We were informed on Friday morning that Aaron's preferred destination this summer is to Emirates Stadium with Arsenal. We will now continue the dialogue with the Gunners with a view to Aaron's move being completed." It is a personal triumph for Wenger over Sir Alex Ferguson, who had telephoned Ramsey to persuade him to move to Old Trafford before captain Gary Neville gave him a tour around the club's training ground at Carrington. United were so keen to do a deal that, unlike Arsenal, they were willing to loan the player back to Cardiff next season.

The Championship club's chairman Peter Ridsdale said: "It is a very straight-forward, no strings attached £5m cash offer. We felt United equalled it because it included a loan option."

Ramsey also met with Everton manager David Moyes, but Arsenal will now reap the benefit of signing one of the best young players in Britain.

He has made rapid progress since he became Cardiff 's youngest player last year when, at the age of 16 years and 124 days, he made his debut against Hull.

Ramsey only signed his first professional contract last December and made his first start for Cardiff in the FA Cup against non-League Chasetown a month later.

He went on to make 22 appearances last season, including five in Cardiff 's run to the FA Cup Final, where he came on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

His form also led to international recognition as he was selected by Wales for the end-of-season friendlies against Holland and Iceland.

Meanwhile, England coach Fabio Capello today accused Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas of failing to match his club form at international level.

Fabregas is not expected to be in the starting XI for Spain's first game of Euro 2008 against Russia today and Capello believes it's because he can't handle the expectations of his nation.

He said: " Playing for your club is not playing for millions of people.

The level of the games is higher in the Champions League, but the pressure of international football is different.

"This is the reason a lot of good players play very well with their clubs, but are not the same in the national team.

"One example is Fabregas, who is one of the best players in England but does not play often for Spain. It's possible the pressure is very big and he suffers a little."