Arsenal vs. Marseille: Where Does Aaron Ramsey's Winner Rank in Recent Memory?

It hadn't looked particularly promising for Arsenal during most of Wednesday's match against Olympique de Marseille.

A trip to the south of France is never an easy prospect, but outside of one clear-cut chance from Theo Walcott in the second half, there wasn't much in the way of genuine goal-scoring intent from the Gunners.

The pitch—which only looked wider with the gaping swaths of fan-less sections of the Stade Velodrome (the stadium is currently undergoing renovations)—allowed for an open-ended match, particularly in the final half hour.

Still, it looked for the longest time as if Arsenal would come away with a point.

Then came the clinical injury time winner from substitute Aaron Ramsey. It was a classy finish, taken with ultimate cool when the Welshman's side needed it most.

That goal sent Arsenal to a 1-0 victory and propelled the North London side to first place in the Group F standings. The Gunners now sit on seven points from three games, one point clear of second place Marseille.

Ramsey's end-time exuberance was the latest addition to a veritable a glut of crucial last gasp goals in club history. Where does it rank all time? That's a question I could never answer.

To save some potential arguments, I've cast my eye back through the past decade. Some finishes that deserved inclusion may have been unfairly omitted (looking at you, Sylvinho), but I do enjoy every goal on this list.

Just where does Ramsey's strike rank? Have a look.

No. 5: Nicklas Bendtner vs. Wolves, April 2010

The Great Dane, since departed from Arsenal for a season-long loan with Sunderland in 2011-12, had a number of crucial goals for Arsenal during the '09-10 season. This match winner at the Emirates against Wolves ranked right up there with his best.

Long derided for the opportunities he wasted in front of goal (I remember one game where he was mercifully applauded off the pitch at the Emirates after shanking some seven clear-cut chances), there's no denying that Bendtner often provided some of the most opportune finishes in the dying embers of many an Arsenal match.

He often showed up in the most important times. It certainly wasn't as often as Gunners fans might have wanted, but it was a worthy contribution nonetheless.

No. 4: Alexander Hleb vs. Fulham, 2007

He never made the impact many had hoped following his high-profile move from Stuttgart in 2005. But succeeding Gunners legend Robert Pires was never going to be an easy task.

Alexander Hleb's winner against Fulham in the early stages of the 2007-08 season set the tone for what was to become (at least until the debacle at Birmingham) a very successful season for the Gunners.

It was a rare goal from the Belorussian, who still became one of the most dangerous options Arsenal possessed. When he was at his best, Hleb was breathtaking to watch on the wing, where he would use his superb balance and sublime technical ability to put defenses under relentless pressure.

No. 3: Robin Van Persie vs. Southampton, 2004

The Invincibles streak had finally been broken a mere week before this home match at Highbury. Robin van Persie, then a fledgling winger with Arsenal, made sure there would be no repeat feeling of damp dismay for Gunners faithful leaving the game.

A point wasn't the best result faced against a club mired in the middling muddle of the Premiership standings. But it was a psychological boost all the same.

Van Persie has since built upon this knack to score goals at opportune moments for Arsenal—that equalizer against Barcelona in February 2011 was obviously one of the most noteworthy.

No. 2: Andrei Arshavin vs. Barcelona, 2011

Maybe it can be chalked up to the jubilation in Martin Tyler's voice, but this goal never fails to send shivers down my spine.

February 2011 was the last time I felt confident in Arsenal's ability to win games "the Arsenal way." Was there a more vintage display of Gunners attacking football than the build-up to this goal? Simply sensational stuff from Wilshere, Fabregas, Nasri and finally Arshavin.

Had Arsenal managed to go through in the return leg, this might well have topped the list at No. 1. Still, for what it's worth, it was an excellent finish (of a much higher degree of difficulty than many might think), capping an unforgettable night of Arsenal football.

No. 1: Thierry Henry vs. Manchester United, 2007

It was one of Thierry Henry's final contributions to Arsenal (he would leave in summer '07 for Barcelona), but what better way to cap one of the greatest-ever careers in Gunner history than with a goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Frenchman was never renowned as an excellent header of the ball, but perhaps the occasion (and the opponent) resuscitated that long-forgotten bit of technique Henry had once honed upon training grounds as a youth in France.

It was yet another moment of pure class from the captain; a goal when his side needed it most.

Though Arsenal would succumb to United in the league standings that season, they could say (and how many sides can attest to this) that they'd beaten Man U both times they had faced them during the 2006-07 Premiership season.

Quite a feat. Just like the goals on this list.