Mikel Arteta refuses to rule out Aaron Ramsdale sale as Newcastle ponder move
Mikel Arteta wants to keep Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal - but refused to guarantee the England goalkeeper will not be sold to Newcastle in January.
Ramsdale has lost his starting place at the Gunners since the summer signing of David Raya from Brentford - and Gareth Southgate warned he needs to be playing regular football to be sure of making the Euro 2024 squad.
Title rivals Newcastle are looking for a new keeper after fellow England keeper was ruled out for five months with a shoulder injury.
But before seeking a sixth consecutive win in all competitions at Luton tonight, Arteta said: “I want Aaron with us. I am very happy to have two very very good goalkeepers and Aaron is staying with us.
“I have spoken to him. He’s willing to play. Like any player, he wants to play for Arsenal. That’s what he wants to do. Then the other is a consequence. And as well for England it’s not like he has started a lot of games, so hopefully we can help him be better here so then he can play for England.”
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Arteta has spent £600m in the transfer market and wants to buy in January but Financial Fair Play restrictions meant they had to sign Raya on loan this season. Selling £30m Ramsdale would release money for a new striker or a central midfielder.
“We want to be better, so we want to add to what we already have,” Arteta said. “That’s the intention that we have. We already have a plan in place to make sure that we can be proactive if something needs to be done, that is our job.”
Asked if he could guarantee Ramsdale would not be sold to Newcastle in January, he said: “I won’t do that for any player. Any player. I cannot tell you that any Arsenal player is not going to leave in January. Or he is to stay here for the next three years.
“I cannot guarantee that nobody is going to be leaving in January. For Newcastle or any other club. “
Aaron Ramsdale could be set to leave Arsenal this January (Getty Images)Arteta spoke in praise of Bukayo Saka who is set to make his 200th Arsenal appearance tonight. “It’s not bad at his age,” he said. “Bukayo is a special guy and we have him with us and hopefully for many more years to come.”
The Gunners manager also defended Oleksandr Zinchenko after the Ukrainian’s mistake led to Wolves’ goal on Saturday. “Every player has got qualities that are so good in certain things and you lose in other things,” he said.
“He wants to take opportunities to damage the opponent. I love that about him.”
Arteta called Luton “an inspiring place” and revealed he did his coaching licence with Rob Edwards. “He’s a great coach,” he said. “A really special person as well. I’m very happy for him the way it’s going.”
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