Mikel Arteta has given Ramsdale three signs that his Arsenal career may be over
Mikel Arteta previews Arsenal’s trip to Brentford
Aaron Ramsdale was selected to deputise for the ineligible David Raya against Brentford on Saturday, but in his bid to be reinstated as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper, it was far from the nerve-settling display that the Arsenal man would have been hoping for.
Two first-half errors from Ramsdale were particularly striking. The first saw Yoane Wissa dispossess him in his own penalty area, and the second was a miscued throw which led to another dangerous Brentford attack.
Thankfully for Ramsdale, solid Arsenal defending bailed him out on both occasions. But reading between the lines, three ominous signs suggest that he may not be given another chance to earn his spot back before the January transfer window, when he is tipped to look elsewhere for first-team football.
One source of concern for Ramsdale will be Arteta’s reaction to his first near-fatal mistake. Declan Rice heroically cleared Wissa’s effort off the line, but cameras showed the manager seething at the sight of his side almost falling behind in calamitous circumstances.
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The Arsenal boss evidently found it tricky to conceal his emotions all afternoon. Having watched Ramsdale stumble his way through the opening exchanges, Arteta bellowed for him to abandon his short-goal-kick routine and start going long.
It can’t be understated just how worrying a sign that is from a manager dedicated to building from the back, so much so that he acquired a £30million goalkeeper in Raya during the summer – a specialist in possession – when many felt that Ramsdale did a good enough job last season.
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Kai Havertz becoming an unlikely hero diverted a chunk of the post-match conversation away from Ramsdale and towards a vital 1-0 victory, which sent the Gunners top of the Premier League.
However, the back-up stopper’s third worrying sign came after the final whistle. In trying not to give anything away, Arteta effectively said it all by intentionally dodging questions on Ramsdale’s performance, when he could have easily praised him for steadying the ship and putting on a respectable display in the second period.
“I think I’m so happy with how the team performed,” Arteta told TNT Sports. “We got the clean sheet and I’m so happy with the way everybody played.”
When pressed on Ramsdale’s performance specifically, he sternly responded: “I think the team was exceptional today.”
Fixtures are set to come thick and fast between now and January, but the writing may already be on the wall for Ramsdale, who should have no shortage of Premier League suitors if he opts to jump ship.
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