Arsenal are set to face Southampton in the Premier League, and they will encounter a familiar face in Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale joined Arsenal in 2021, and defied critics as he replaced Bernd Leno as the number one goalkeeper and instantly impressed.
The England International became a popular figure at the Emirates Stadium, and his second season saw Ramsdale named in the PFA Team of the Year.
However, Mikel Arteta signed David Raya from Brentford last season, who usurped Ramsdale, and the Spaniard eventually proved to be an upgrade on him.
Ramsdale lost his place in the England squad and needed to play regularly, which led to him joining Southampton in the summer.
It was not an easy decision for Arteta to sell the popular goalkeeper, and the Spaniard has now praised him ahead of his return to the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta opens up on Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal exit
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Southampton, which will see Ramsdale return to the Emirates for the first time since his exit, Arteta revealed that he called him as soon as his transfer was confirmed.
“I called him straight away when I got the news [of his transfer] and he was really happy,” he stated.
“He is a player that we loved a lot, very charismatic and he really put his fingerprints here on the club with the way that he was. It’ll be very good to see him.”
Arteta then explained how difficult the decision was to sell the 26-year-old.
“It is personally, because I was very grateful for what he did. When we signed there was a lot of noise around him,” he added.
“We helped him to create an environment that he needed because we believed in his potential and he showed it. He won the respect and admiration of all of us.
“Then the circumstances changed because this is elite sport and that can happen. It was difficult to deal with that situation in a natural way so we decided to part ways and hopefully he is grateful as well.”
Aaron Ramsdale to receive warm welcome in Arsenal vs Southampton
Although his final season was a difficult one, the Arsenal fans are still fond of Ramsdale, in a stark contrast to their relationship with Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez after his controversial transfer.
Ramsdale joined Arsenal at a turbulent time, but helped repair the relationship between the club and the fanbase, and will receive a warm welcome from the Emirates crowd as he returns for the first time.
The goalkeeper has been omitted from the latest England squad after a winless start to the season with Southampton, and he will hope to rediscover his best form over the course of the campaign.
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