"Devastated" Aaron Ramsdale told he has to leave Arsenal to save England career
Aaron Ramsdale has been urged to leave Arsenal if he is to make the cut for England's Euro 2024 squad after losing his place to David Raya.
The Gunners goalkeeper has been the number one for the majority of his time at the club since his arrival in the summer of 2021, ousting Bernd Leno in the process. However, Ramsdale is now the one under threat from competition after Arsenal landed Raya's signature on loan from Brentford earlier this summer.
To make the situation worse from Ramsdale's perspective, it is widely expected that Arsenal will make Raya's switch permanent in the summer. The Spain international has started the last two games for the Gunners, including Wednesday night's 4-0 victory against PSV Eindhoven - the club's first Champions League tie since 2017.
There is now mounting expectation that it will be Raya who lines up between the sticks for the visit of fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. While the 28-year-old was largely untested in both of his two appearances, he barely put a foot wrong and showcased his impressive distribution skills.
TalkSPORT pundit and ex-Aston Villa ace Gabriel Agbonlahor has admitted he could underestand Ramsdale's reasoning if the goalkeeper was to try and push for an Emirates exit in January. "Ramsdale will be in the horrors now," Agbonlahor claimed.
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"The Euros are coming he’s thinking to himself I’ve just played for England I’ve got a chance now. Now he probably won’t even get on the plane.
"Dean Henderson left Manchester United and has gone to Crystal Palace and he’s got a task to get Sam Johnstone out of the side. He has to go and play somewhere, it’s as simple as that.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should be Arsenal's number one - Raya or Ramsdale? Comment below
Aaron Ramsdale has lost his place as Arsenal's starting goalkeeper to David Raya (Getty Images)"We said it about [Kalvin] Phillips and [Harry] Maguire and these players but I mean Ramsdale, you’d be devastated. He got his team into the Champions League he played a big part of it but football is heartless."
The demise of Ramsdale has come as quite the shock given he was handed a lengthy contract extension back in May and hasn't done much to warrant losing his place. With that being said, it has been reported that Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea are now circling, while Bayern Munich are believed to be keeping an eye on developments.
With that being said, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has insisted that Ramsdale has responded well to being dropped and conceded it is difficult to leave the goalkeeper out of the line-up.
"He’s been very supportive around the place and that’s what I expect because when you’re playing there’s someone else who’s not and he’s been very good. Comfortable? Maybe I look it, it’s one of the hardest things.
"Players feel happy and valued when they play and when they don’t it’s hard. Everybody understands that it’s a team sport but we have seen how important the finishes are and everybody has a part to play in the season."
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