Graeme Souness has urged Aaron Ramsdale to stay at Arsenal.
Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness does not want to see Aaron Ramsdale give up on his Arsenal career.
Ramsdale has fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal this season. Having been the No. 1 for the last two campaigns, he is now playing second fiddle to David Raya.
The Gunners signed Raya on a season-long loan deal from Brentford in the recent summer transfer widow, and are due to shell out £27 million to make his switch to north London permanent.
Since the Spanish shot-stopper made his Arsenal bow in September, Ramsdale has been restricted to game time in the EFL Cup.
This situation has led to Ramsdale speaking out publicly about the pain that his demotion has caused him. More recently, the player’s father has gone on the record about the sadness his son is experiencing.
The harsh truth is, though, that Mikel Arteta has every right to sign and pick the players who he feels give Arsenal the best chances of success. Ramsdale may well be a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium, but Raya seems to be a better tactical fit for the manager’s vision of how he wants his team to play.
It could be easily argued that, for the good of his career, and with EURO 2024 on the horizon, the four-cap England international needs to push for a move away from Arsenal as soon as possible. He is certainly good enough to be the first choice ‘keeper for many top flight sides.
Graeme Souness charges Aaron Ramsdale with Arsenal mission
Souness, though, does not want the 25-year-old to give up on his Arsenal dream so easily. Writing in the Daily Mail, he said, “it is time for Aaron Ramsdale to do his own fighting…the Arsenal goalkeeper has to show what he is made of and deal with the situation in which he finds himself. Mikel Arteta fancies David Raya more than he does Ramsdale right now, but that can change.”
“I would ask him to look at the example of Harry Maguire. He took all the criticism on the chin, all the disappointment. He dealt with it and finds himself back in the team at Manchester United. Scott McTominay, too. He was being pushed out the door at the start of the season, and now he’s in the side. That’s football…Sport at the highest level can be cruel and can be seen to be unfair. But there is only one person who can right that perceived injustice.”
Both Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay have come back into the fold at Old Trafford somewhat recently. However, to varying degrees, both were aided by injuries to teammates in some way.
Of course, Raya could get injured, opening the door for Ramsdale. However, due to the nature of their position as goalkeepers, injuries and suspensions are less frequent than they are for outfield players. Equally, outfielders are habitually substituted within matches. No matter what Arteta says he plans to do, Ramsdale can hardly expect to be substituted on during in a match outside of an injury or sending off.
Ramsdale should still believe that he can get his starting berth back. Honestly, though, it seems like the writing is on the wall for the £30 million former Sheffield United man.
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