14 April 2023 , 21:30
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While Squeaky Bum Time might affect your average Premier League player, Mikel Arteta sees no fear in the eyes of Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal’s England keeper was outstanding in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool. The dropped points, however, have handed the title edge to defending champions Manchester City. Should Pep Guardiola and his men win all of their remaining games - including an Etihad showdown against the Gunners on April 26 - City will win a fifth title in six years.
Should Arsenal keep them at bay, however, Ramsdale will be one of the key reasons. “He has been really, really good,” said Arteta. “And probably against the odds because when you look at his past and where he was coming from, he was relegated twice, so it was difficult to imagine it.
“But we saw he had that character, charisma and personality to play for our club and he had the potential qualities to feed into our way of playing.
“It’s his consistency. He is number one. He's decisive in key moments, especially in our way of playing, key moments to be able to play the way we want to play, in defence and attack. Also what he transmits to the rest of the team and to the outside world. When you see the development he has had the past two seasons I think he is exceptional.”
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Relegated with Chesterfield and Sheffield United, 24-year-old Ramsdale has embraced the step up to the big time to become arguably the No.1 English keeper in the country. Arteta credits him with being key to Arsenal’s defensive strength.
“The first day I was on the phone to him, I said, ‘let’s do it, let’s do it’. Because you have that feeling you sense when someone is mentally ready.
Aaron Ramsdale has no fear in the title race (PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)“Any question you ask him to see how he will answer. He is ready for it, he has seen ahead, he knows what is coming and he knows what he wants and he feels capable of doing it. He has no fear, he was just looking at the challenge ahead of him and that is what you want.”
Signed for a £30million package during the summer of 2021, the former Sheffield United and AFC Wimbledon keeper soon replaced the more experienced Bernd Leno at the Emirates and even more rapidly showed why.
Reflecting on the internal discussions at the Emirates, Arteta went on: “[We decided to sign him after] we played against him and obviously I'd watched him a lot. It was that presence and that energy he had, I thought: ‘This is the one.’
“We had many discussions and many possibilities but we made the decision all together and were comfortable and we were happy to do it.”
Last Sunday’s Anfield draw ended a run of six consecutive League wins for Arsenal. But Sunday’s trip to West Ham offers the chance to get back to winning ways. “Liverpool is now another day,” said Arteta. “Now it's about this Sunday. That game was important and he had a couple of really important saves but at the end it's about 38 games in this league and how good you've been.”
Arsenal were 3-1 winners in the Boxing Day clash against West Ham and 2-1 winners at the London Stadium last season. Whatever they do this weekend, Arteta has complete confidence in Ramsdale to keep the back door firmly closed.