Hard to watch as Ramsdale flunks his last chance
IF this proves to be the final act of Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal career, what a sorry ending. It could even have been worse if Kai Havertz had not come to his rescue with an 86th-minute headed winner to see off Brentford.
Ramsdale’s nightmare moment came when Gabriel’s pass trickled along the floor to him in first-half stoppage time. The goalkeeper’s right leg cocked back seemingly for an age, allowing Yoane Wissa to execute a slide tackle and deflect the attempted clearance into the net. It was poor.
The Arsenal substitutes and backroom staff made their way over to Ramsdale at half-time, slapping him on the back by way of encouragement, but the damage had been done.
The first seeds of doubt were sown for Ramsdale on the evening of September 17, when Raya replaced him for the 1-0 victory over Everton. It was the start of the end for Ramsdale.
Mikel Arteta spoke of how keepers are interchangeable, suggesting they could be swapped between games or even within a game. But there has been no hint of rotation Ramsdale has warmed the bench, only featuring in cup ties, a Champions League deadrubber and the two games against Raya’s parent club Brentford, for which the Spaniard was ineligible. Ramsdale’s matchdefining displays last season, particularly in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool when he pulled off two sensational stoppage-time saves, seem an awfully long time ago.
On his day, he is exceptional, a keeper who exudes bravery in the air and has great distribution on the counter-attack.
This was seen early on against Brentford when he sent Leandro Trossard through on goal with a monstrous throw after retrieving the ball from a corner.
But unfortunately it is the howlers for which Ramsdale will be remembered this season.
Arteta called on Gareth Southgate to look past Ramsdale’s club exclusion and consider him for England’s Euros squad. Lo and behold, Southgate was here on Saturday. Some pressure. Ramsdale cannot be accused of a lack of effort. His professionalism has stood out and he has never publicly complained about losing his place.
A sign of how much playing for the club means to him was evident before the Champions League match in Seville.
The Arsenal Twitter account announced that his wife Georgina had given birth to their son. Three days later, Ramsdale flew to Spain, despite knowing he was unlikely to be required.
If this is his last appearance in a Gunners shirt — he is expected to have many suitors in the summer — one can only hope that wherever he goes, he regains his confidence and rebuilds his career.
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Ramsdale 5.5; White 7.5, Saliba 6.5, Gabriel 6.5, Kiwior 6.5 (Zinchenko 80min); Odegaard 7 (Partey 90+5), Jorginho 7 (Jesus 70, 6), RICE 8.5; Saka 7, Havertz 7.5, Trossard 6.5 (Nelson 79). Scorers: Rice 19, Havertz 86. Booked: Gabriel, Havertz. Manager: Mikel Arteta 7. BRENTFORD (3-5-2): Flekken 6.5; Jorgensen 6 (Damsgaard 90), Ajer 6.5, Collins 7; Roerslev 5.5, Onyeka 6 (Yarmoliuk 78), Norgaard 6 (Jensen 34, 6.5), Janelt 6, Lewis-Potter 6; Toney 6, Wissa 7 (Maupay 78). Scorer: Wissa 45+4. Booked: Onyeka, Jorgensen, Wissa, Collins. Manager: Thomas Frank 6. Referee: Robert Jones 7. Attendance: 60,331.