NEW Arsenal signing Aaron Ramsey has received an surprise good luck message as he begins his Emirates career.
The £5million wonderkid became the Gunners' first summer signing earlier this month when he joined from Cardiff.
Ramsey, 17, rejected offers from Manchester United and Everton in favour of a move to North London.
But it could have been so different for the talented teenager.
Only 18 months ago, Ramsey was spotted playing rugby league for his school by scouts from St Helens.
The Super League club offered him the chance to start a professional career with them.
But Ramsey had already decided his future was in football and chose to stick with Cardiff.
It was a decision that paid off for the gifted midfielder.
Just months later he became the second-youngest player to feature in an FA Cup final when the Bluebirds lost to Portsmouth at Wembley.
An international call-up for Wales followed before the Premier League's top teams queued up for his signature.
St Helens and England rugby league star Jon Wilkin hopes Ramsey makes a success of his time at Arsenal.
The forward, 24, said: "It sounds like he's a very talented guy and I wish him all the best.
"Potentially he's going to benefit financially from choosing football over rugby league.
"But for him the main thing is that he has to be doing what he enjoys the most.
"If football is the game he likes then he has definitely made the right decision.
"Obviously it would have been great for him to come in to rugby league but that's one of the challenges we face in our sport.
"We would love to be able to attract the best players but sometimes it's hard to compete with the
The £5million wonderkid became the Gunners' first summer signing earlier this month when he joined from Cardiff.
Ramsey, 17, rejected offers from Manchester United and Everton in favour of a move to North London.
But it could have been so different for the talented teenager.
Only 18 months ago, Ramsey was spotted playing rugby league for his school by scouts from St Helens.
The Super League club offered him the chance to start a professional career with them.
But Ramsey had already decided his future was in football and chose to stick with Cardiff.
It was a decision that paid off for the gifted midfielder.
Just months later he became the second-youngest player to feature in an FA Cup final when the Bluebirds lost to Portsmouth at Wembley.
An international call-up for Wales followed before the Premier League's top teams queued up for his signature.
St Helens and England rugby league star Jon Wilkin hopes Ramsey makes a success of his time at Arsenal.
The forward, 24, said: "It sounds like he's a very talented guy and I wish him all the best.
"Potentially he's going to benefit financially from choosing football over rugby league.
"But for him the main thing is that he has to be doing what he enjoys the most.
"If football is the game he likes then he has definitely made the right decision.
"Obviously it would have been great for him to come in to rugby league but that's one of the challenges we face in our sport.
"We would love to be able to attract the best players but sometimes it's hard to compete with the
, should turn out a steal.
