BritishGoalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said he loves being part of Arsenal, after continuously receiving encouragement in the Premier League win over Brentford.
“An emotion that I never took for granted. I love being part of this club. The fans showed outstanding enthusiasm when supporting me. Thank you,” Ramsdale wrote above Instagram.
Ramsdale was recruited by Arsenal for 33 million USD from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, and immediately took the starting position of number one goalkeeper Bernd Leno at that time. In the Premier League last season, he played all 38 matches, kept 14 clean sheets, and contributed greatly to helping Arsenal win runner-up position. But this season, the English international lost his position to David Raya - who was loaned from Brentford with the option to buy permanently for a fee of 35 million USD in the summer of 2024. Coach Mikel Arteta prioritizes his fellow goalkeeper because of his good footwork ability. .
Ramsdale was encouraged by his teammates after the win over Brentford. Image: Offside
Ramsdale has not played in the Premier League since the 3-1 win over Man Utd on September 3. Since then, he has only appeared twice more in the League Cup – a 9-1 win over Brentford in round three and a 0-1 loss to West Ham in the round of 3, before he returned to the Premier League last weekend for Raya. are not allowed to play against the current parent team.
Sympathizing with Ramsdale, many Arsenal fans supported him by wearing jerseys, holding up banners and continuously singing his name. Teammates also sought comfort. After the match, most ran to celebrate with Ramsdale.
However, the lack of playing time greatly affected Ramsdale's performance. Typically in the 13th minute, he hesitated in bringing the ball up and then made an error when the opponent approached in the penalty area. Luckily for the 25-year-old goalkeeper, midfielder Declan Rice was able to retreat and block Bryan Mbeumo's shot right on the goal line. Ramsdale had one more failed throw, forcing his teammates to relieve him.
In the second half, Ramsdale played more stably, helping Arsenal keep a clean sheet and win 1-0. In the press conference after the match, Arteta praised Ramsdale and did not criticize his student for his mistakes. “That's football. I'm very happy with what the team showed. We kept a clean sheet and are progressing. Ramsdale is very brave and has character. That's why I love him. I like the way the players encourage each other," the Spanish coach said.
Arteta once said he would rotate between Raya and Ramsdale. But it seems that Raya has prevailed in the competition and recently, British media reported that Arsenal decided to buy Raya outright. This sparked rumors that Ramsdale would leave Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window.
Vinh San (follow Goal)
