The Wales international moved to north London from the Bluebirds in 2008.

Neil Warnock wants Cardiff to “rough up” Aaron Ramsey and leave Wales manager Ryan Giggs sweating.

Giggs will be in Cardiff on Sunday to run the rule over Arsenal midfielder Ramsey ahead of Wales’ UEFA League of Nations games against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark.

“I will probably be wincing at every tackle, it doesn’t help that you are playing a Neil Warnock team,” Giggs said of Ramsey’s final Premier League appointment before the international break.

Veteran Cardiff boss Warnock has built his sides down the years on their combative nature, and he admits Giggs has every reason to be anxious as Ramsey returns to the club he left Arsenal for in 2008.

“I don’t blame Ryan for being nervous about the game,” Warnock said.

“I hope we can rough him (Ramsey) up. Needs must.

“Aaron is a top player and I’ve always liked him. I’ve always thought he was underrated really because he’s a player who doesn’t grab the headlines, he goes under the radar.

“He’s a manager’s dream. He’d be number one on your team sheet every week and then you put the other 10 around him.”

Cardiff are yet to score on their Premier League return after losing at Bournemouth and sharing goalless draws with Newcastle and Huddersfield.

The Bluebirds now have a daunting three-game run with a trip to Chelsea sandwiched in between home games against Arsenal and champions Manchester City.

But Warnock believes a national TV audience against Arsenal – opponents Cardiff have not beaten since 1961 – will help dispel the myth that he feels surrounds his side.

“I think we get wrongly judged on our approach,” he said.

“I’ve had it for 38 years, it started at Notts County when I had players who couldn’t pass water!

“But we had more possession than Newcastle in that game and everyone says we’re long-ball merchants.

“At Bournemouth we played a five-foot eight-inch striker. People have this assumption of us because of our approach last year.

“But we play a lot more football this year because of guys like Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa.

“I think we’ve played some good stuff at times and the only problem for me is getting goals and helping guys like Bobby Reid and Kenneth Zohore get into good positions.”

Arsenal lost their opening away game at Chelsea under Unai Emery and have won only once on the road in the Premier League in 2018.

They were also heavily criticised at Chelsea for putting themselves under pressure by constantly trying to play out from the back.

“I don’t think they’re dissimilar to when (Arsene) Wenger was there,” Warnock said.

“The top sides all play out from the back because of the players they have.

“I had to laugh when I saw the goalkeeper at Liverpool (Alisson Becker) chip that ball.

“I said to (Cardiff goalkeeper) Neil Etheridge ‘I’ll throttle you if you do it’, but the top teams all have the confidence to do things like that.”