Aaron Ramsdale handed another Arsenal exit route after Mikel Arteta's U-turn

16 December 2023 , 12:50

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Aaron Ramsdale handed another Arsenal exit route after Mikel Arteta's U-turn

Aaron Ramsdale is the subject of interest from Chelsea as speculation casting doubt over his long-term future at Arsenal continues to linger.

The England international has been the Gunners No.1 since September 2021, but lost his place almost exactly two years later after boss Mikel Arteta opted to sign David Raya on loan from Brentford in the summer. Bar the opening exchanges of the season, Raya has lined up between the sticks for the majority of the campaign.

He has not been without some glaring errors, which has in turn led to calls for Ramsdale to be reinstated as first-choice goalkeeper. However, Arteta has stood firm and stuck by Raya, which would suggest he is adamant that the Spaniard will be his No.1 in the long-term.

As a result, Ramsdale has been touted with an Emirates exit and would hardly be shy of suitors. One club believed to be keen on securing his shot-stopping services is Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea. Though the Blues signed a 'keeper of their own in Robert Sanchez last summer, he is set for an extended spell on the sidelines with injury.

In turn, Ramsdale could be the perfect solution, especially given the January transfer window is now just weeks away. It remains unclear how much that particular potential transfer would burn his bridges at Arsenal, but the goalkeeper may think he has a right to feel aggrieved.

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Upon Raya's arrival, Arteta was very public in his defence of Ramsdale, insisting that the transfer did not mean the end of the 25-year-old's Gunners career and that he'd even consider swapping one for the other mid-game.

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Aaron Ramsdale could be set to leave Arsenal this January (Getty Images)

Speaking in September, the Arsenal boss claimed: "It’s something that has been historically done like this, but I cannot have two players like this in one position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities like Aaron has, like Karl [Hein] has, but we have to use them you know.

"It’s like this. I’m a really young manager. I’ve been in this job three and a half years and I have few regrets with what I’ve done. One of them was that in two occasions, I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes, in two games, in this period, to change the keeper in that moment. But I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it."

Ramsdale has made just one league start since September 3, and that sole start came away at Brentford, a game Raya was ineligible for due to the Bees still being his parent club. At this stage, Chelsea may an appealing prosepct in the eyes of the Three Lions 'keeper as he looks to save his Euro 2024 chances.

Josh O'Brien