02 February 2024 , 09:22
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The January transfer window has now passed and Aaron Ramsdale remains an Arsenal player, though some feel that could cost him his England career.
The Gunners goalkeeper had 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, David Raya's arrival on loan from Brentford last summer has meant Ramsdale now watches most action from the substitutes bench.
Despite a shaky start to life at the Emirates from the Spaniard, it is widely expected that Raya's loan will be made permanent in the summer. In turn, that places Ramsdale's future in north London into doubt, with the ex-Bournemouth and Sheffield United star far too good to be a No.2 in the long-term.
Back in September, Ramsdale was urged by talkSPORT pundit and ex-Aston Villa ace Gabriel Agbonlahor to call time on his Arsenal stay in January with a look to salvaging his hopes of making Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad for Euro 2024 in the summer.
"Ramsdale will be in the horrors now," Agbonlahor claimed. "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.
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"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.
"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."
Instead of finding a new club where he can get regular first-team football, Ramsdale is still at Arsenal following the conclusion of the mid-season window. There's every chance he doesn't play another minute this season if Raya remains fit.
HAVE YOUR SAY!Should Ramsdale have left Arsenal last month? Comment below
Aaron Ramsdale has been on the bench for the majority of Arsenal's games this season (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Before the turn of the year, there were reports suggesting that Arsenal's London rivals Chelsea were circling, while Bayern Munich were also believed to be keeping an eye on developments regarding Ramsdale.
Speaking in the days that followed after Ramsdale was first dropped for Raya, Arteta had this to say: "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."
Just how big a part Ramsdale has to play for Arsenal between now and the end of the seson remains unclear, but Southgate is unlikely to love the idea of selecting someone with five league appearances to his name all season.