Arsenal legend Ian Wright enlists the help of Aaron Ramsdale to help him grow a moustache for Movember – as he opens up on how he ‘bottled up feelings for years’ and hopes this ‘helps others open up and ask for help’

• Aaron Ramsdale could feature for Arsenal on Wednesday against West Ham 
• Ramsdale has lost his place in the starting XI for Arsenal to David Raya this term 
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Ian Wright has called on Aaron Ramsdale to be his Mo Mate this Movember, as the Arsenal legend looks to raise awareness for mental health and encourage others to ‘open up and ask for help’. 

Movember is an annual movement that encourages people to grow moustaches in the month of November, traditionally to raise awareness for mental health issues in men. 

However, for those unable to grow a moustache – and estimates suggest that applies to some 6million men in the UK – it can therefore be difficult to take part in the movement. 

As such, Gillette ambassador Wright has enlisted Ramsdale’s help to grow a moustache on his behalf, admitting ‘I can’t grow a decent’ one himself. 

Data shows that a person is three times more likely to take part if asked to by a trusted friend, while 63 per cent of Under 35s admitted they would consider growing some facial foliage for Movember.  

Ian Wright has called on Aaron Ramsdale to grow a moustache on his behalf for Movember

The Arsenal legend admitted that he ‘can’t grow a decent’ moustache himself and called on the Gunners stopper for help

https://youtube.com/watch?v=iK8UyBRn48Y%3Frel%3D0

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‘I’m so happy to be working with Gillette to support Movember again,’ claimed Wright.

‘I can’t grow a decent moustache, so Aaron is my Mo Mate and he’s growing one that’s hopefully good enough for the both of us, and that gets people talking. 

‘I bottled up my feelings for years, and when I finally spoke to someone, it was the best thing I ever did. I hope this campaign helps others open up and ask for help if they’re struggling.’

Wright is one of the bigger legends at Arsenal, and as such his decision to call on current Gunners keeper Ramsdale is no surprise. 

The England international has recently lost his place in the starting XI under Mikel Arteta but will be in contention for a start in the Carabao Cup against West Ham on Wednesday evening, having started in the previous round.

He added that he ‘couldn’t turn down’ the club icon’s call to join him in taking part in the campaign, and reiterated the call for others to open up about their own mental health battles.  

‘When Wrighty made the call and told me what him and Gillette were up to and then asked me to be his Mo Mate I couldn’t turn it down!’ he said. 

‘I’m proud to be working with Gillette on this and supporting my good mate Ian who always has my back.

Ramsdale has lost his place in the starting XI for the Gunners to David Raya at the start of this season

Mikel Arteta’s goalkeeper rotation policy has come in for criticism with Raya struggling for consistency in goal 

‘Hopefully it’ll encourage others to get involved and grow their own mo or ask a mate to do so, as well as helping people open up about mental health more freely and raise awareness for such an important charity like Movember.’

The Movember campaign aims to get men talking about mental health as the rate of male suicides in the UK is alarmingly high; three in every four suicides are by men, and across the world on average one man commits suicide every minute. 

The campaign aims to encourage friends to take part together in the hope that the taboo subject can be easier broached among trusted peers in a hope to increase early intervention.  

Donate to Gillette’s Movember fund or sign up to take part HERE.  

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