19 December 2023 , 07:00
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Aaron Ramsdale has been told being axed at Arsenal has made him a better goalkeeper... by the man who has taken his No.1 shirt!
Ramsdale was widely perceived to be one of Mikel Arteta's best performers last season as they battled Manchester City for the Premier League title. Indeed, the England international was named in the Premier League Team of the Season, despite the Gunners being overhauled at the top of the table by Pep Guardiola's side.
But he was ruthlessly cast aside in the early part of the current campaign, following the arrival of a David Raya, on a season-long loan deal from Brentford. The Gunners soon installed the Spaniard as first choice, much to the displeasure of Ramsdale's father.
In an interview with the podcast , Nick Ramsdale said: "We did not have a clue (his son was going to be dropped). I didn't have a clue, our family didn't have a clue, Aaron didn't have a clue that he was not going to carry on playing. All of a sudden, he's not been played."
However, risking the wrath of Ramsdale Snr, Raya has argued that both him and his squad teammate have improved by competing against each other. "I think that battle - I wouldn't say battle, it's just pushing each other in training, trying to help each other," he said, speaking after the weekend win over Brighton.
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"If we see with each other when we are training that we can help each other, that's how we are and that's how we do. That's the goalkeeper union that from the outside that you see. He is a top, top goalkeeper and a top, top team-mate. I hope he can say the same about me! We are team-mates, we are fighting for one position."
Aaron Ramsdale is now second choice at Arsenal (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Aaron Ramsdale still start for Arsenal? Comment below.
Arteta initially insisted that Raya was signed to compete with Ramsdale, and the pair would share first-team duties. But that notion was now been dismissed, with the latter now confined to domestic cup duty.
It has led to speculation that the 25-year-old could exit the Emirates in January. He's been linked with a temporary move to Newcastle, following the long-term injury to his England colleague Nick Pope.
Raya meanwhile, will almost certainly become a full-time player at Arsenal next summer. The North London club paid an initial fee of £3million to take him on loan, with an obligation to make the move permanent in a £27m transfer.