01 August 2023 , 13:21
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Aaron Ramsdale will be aiming to avoid the same fate as Bernd Leno as Mikel Arteta's advice to the German rings in his ears.
The Arsenal goalkeeper finds himself in somewhat of an uncomfortable position at the Emirates. His position as the Gunners’ number one is under threat for the first time in his two-year spell with the club.
Arsenal are considering a move for Brentford goalkeeper David Raya. Bees boss Thomas Frank has already admitted that he would be willing to sell at the right price so a deal before the end of the window looks a possibility. Should he move across the capital, he will certainly give Ramsdale something to think about. Having been Brentford’s first choice in the Premier League for the past two seasons, the battle is on between the pair to become Mikel Arteta’s number one.
It’s a situation that Ramsdale found himself in two years ago. After arriving at the Emirates following a £30m switch from Sheffield United, he had the task of dislodging Leno from between the sticks.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man had been the Gunners’ number one for the previous three seasons. Arteta was clear with his message after he was asked how he would choose between the two keepers.
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He said: "We have two fantastic goalkeepers. Never forget what Bernd has done for us and what a good goalkeeper he is. I had to make a decision and today I believed Aaron was the right one to do so, like in any other position we have to decide and that’s what we decided today.
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"I want to see how they perform. Now we need performances and we need to win football matches. Whoever gives the better performances, transmits better things and is more reliable is going to play."
Following a brief bedding-in period, Arteta eventually plumped for Ramsdale as his number one, which saw Leno restricted to just eight appearances in all competitions throughout the season. That eventually led to his departure from Arsenal as he joined Fulham in an initial £3m deal last summer.
That decision certainly looked to be the correct one as Ramsdale established himself as the most valuable goalkeeper in world football. His performances at the Emirates also saw him rewarded with a new deal and a place in the England squad.
His form has taken a dip since then though, which could be a reason why Arsenal are looking at signing Raya before the window is closed. Ramsdale then will need to ensure that he follows Arteta’s advice of two years ago and returns to his top form sooner rather than later.