18 November 2023 , 18:15
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Former Liverpool great Steve Nicol has called on Aaron Ramsdale to ask Mikel Arteta for a transfer amid his continued exile from the Arsenal starting line-up.
The England international has been forced to play second fiddle at the Emirates Stadium after the signing of David Raya on loan from Brentford in the summer. Former Sheffield United stopper Ramsdale was the Gunners' number one goalkeeper during his first two seasons with the club.
However, he has not featured under Arteta since his team's 3-1 win over Manchester United at the beginning of September. Raya was soon installed as the club's first choice goalkeeper and has kept his place in the side ever since in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Now, former Anfield mainstay turned pundit Nicol has given his verdict on Ramsdale's plight so far this season by urging him to ask to leave the North London outfit. Speaking on the 'ESPN FC' podcast, he said: "It does look as though [Aaron] Ramsdale's had enough and actually, this is all [Mikel] Arteta's fault.
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The only way that Ramsdale was ever going to accept this was [David] Raya being outstanding and then he can't say anything," the Scotsman continued, as he questioned the form of Raya in recent games following a strong start to life with his temporary employers.
Nicol added: "Arteta's decided to go with Raya at the start of the season and the only way that Ramsdale can not have any problems is if Raya's been outstanding, but the fact is he hasn't been outstanding. If I'm Ramsdale I've got a transfer request in, absolutely ASAP."
The pundit's comments come in the wake of criticisms levelled towards Arteta from Ramsdale's father in recent times as the debate over Arsenal's goalkeeping situation rages on. Ramsdale's father, Nick, did not hold back when criticising Gunners boss Arteta for his handling of the affair, as he explained his son's current situation.
Aaron Ramsdale has been usurped in the Arsenal pecking order by David Raya in recent times (Getty Images)Speaking to ''The Highbury Squad', he said: "Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off.Aaron’s got to live with that and he is living with that even though he’s not been told it. By anybody.
"You’ve got to give the guy a chance for God’s sake," he explained. "Even though the way it’s been done, in my eyes, it's been wrong and we can talk about that but it’s the decision."
"It's possibly the way it's been done. Not knowing the reason why, and this is me because we don’t know why. Again, Aaron is working as hard as he can. He’s trying to do his best for the squad. He’s upbeat and he’ll do everything for Arsenal to try and win the league."
Ramsdale Sr added: "David Raya is a great goalkeeper and it is not his fault. He’s just come in as a goalkeeper. David Raya, Aaron says, is a lovely guy and he works hard with him and Aaron’s trying to help him as much as he can to settle in with the squad."