Aaron Ramsdale has revealed one thing that really bothered him as he lost his place to David Raya in the Arsenal team last season.
The Ramsdale-Raya situation was one of the major talking points over the first few months of the 20-23-24 campaign following the Spaniard’s arrival from Brentford.
Raya came in and quickly deposed England international Ramsdale, who’d been named in the PFA Team of the Year the previous season and didn’t do much wrong as Arsenal challenged for the title.
The majority of Gunners fans weren’t happy with the treatment of Ramsdale at first while television cameras would make sure to catch his reactions to good or bad moments from Raya during games.
‘It used to do my head in,’ Ramsdale told the BBC. ‘Coming off the pitch and then my wife would say ‘you were on TV five times again today”
‘Why someone would pan to me when someone makes a save of a goal goes in and it pans to me on the bench.
‘I do think the story was bigger than what it needed to be. I do think it put pressure on David (Raya) at time as well.
‘I did an interview with David Seaman about my new contract and how I wanted to emulate him and be there for eight, 10 years. A couple months later I was out of the team.
‘I tried my hardest to dislodge David out of the team. I do think now the rewards are showing. He’s started the season incredibly well.
‘He was actually the first person to text me on my move here from the boys at Arsenal. But no he was great, he was top.
‘Like I say he’s mad some big, big saves this season and kept them in some games. I’m just desperate he doesn’t have one of those games again on Saturday.’
Ramsdale’s time at Arsenal came to an end much sooner than had been expected when he signed as he signed for Southampton in the summer.
