Aaron Ramsdale returns to Arsenal on Saturday for the first time since leaving the club for Southampton.
The Gunners are hoping to continue their unbeaten run this season. They have won every game in which they’ve had 11 players on the pitch, and they will be the favourites to get another victory on Saturday.
Ramsdale is a fan favourite at Arsenal and he has a lot of love for Gooners too. However, we’re sure he will want to prove a point on his return to the Emirates Stadium.
Irrespective of what happens, we’re sure Arsenal fans will applaud Ramsdale before and after the game.
What Mikel Arteta and Arsenal think about Aaron Ramsdale
It was a shock to see Mikel Arteta drop Ramsdale for David Raya in September 2023.
The Englishman started last season as the number one at the Emirates, but he lost his place after the first four games of the campaign.
Ramsdale tried hard in training to win his place back, but the Evening Standard reveals that Arteta had made up his mind that Raya was his number one.
That decision has proved to be the right one as the Spanish goalkeeper has been unbelievable for the Gunners since the turn of 2024.
He won the Golden Glove award last season and is one of the favourites to win it again this time around.
Ramsdale was desperate to play and the only way that was possible was if he left the club in the summer. Arsenal granted him his wish, and Southampton signed Ramsdale on transfer deadline day.
Despite how things ended at Arsenal, the report claims that ‘there is no bad blood between Arteta and Ramsdale’.
It has been revealed that the pair have spoken to each other since his departure as well and from Arteta’s side, he is said to be really ‘thankful for Ramsdale’s role in turning Arsenal into title challengers’.
The report also claims that people inside Arsenal really appreciate Ramsdale for not becoming a disruptive figure at the club after losing his place to Raya.
READ MORE: Aaron Ramsdale makes new Mikel Arteta admission when asked about Arsenal summer exit
Arsenal still have to replace Ramsdale
Everyone expected Ramsdale to leave Arsenal in the summer – it was no surprise. However, the Gunners haven’t yet signed a permanent replacement for him
Arsenal tried to sign Joan Garcia late in the window, but Espanyol’s demands proved to be too much for Edu Gaspar. He decided against going forward with that deal.
The Gunners signed Neto instead on a season-long loan deal from Bournemouth, but he is expected to return to the Vitality Stadium at the end of this campaign.
Arsenal will have to sign a new backup goalkeeper in the summer of 2025. The alternative option would be to bring Karl Hein back from his loan and give him the responsibility of becoming Raya’s deputy.
It will be interesting to see what Arteta will decide next year.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
