RAMSDALE ‘CAN BE AS BIG A LEGEND AS SEAMAN’
LEICESTER 0 ARSENAL 2
ENGLAND youth coach Eric Steele has worked with Aaron Ramsdale since he was 19 and believes he can become an Arsenal legend.
Steele was goalkeeping coach when England won the European Under-19 Championship four years ago with Ramsdale in the side.
They have kept in touch and yesterday at home Steele re-ran especially for Express Sport the video of Ramsdale’s stunning performance against Leicester.
James Maddison thought he had got the Foxes back into the game with his 43rd minute free-kick. But Ramsdale flew to his left, shoved the ball against the crossbar, and then blocked Jonny Evans’ follow-up.
“There is so much in that save,” said Steele, who worked with Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar and David De Gea when he was keeper coach at Manchester United.
“Schmeichel says it’s the best save he’s seen for a long time and he would recognise what went into it.
“Mentally, technically and the speed aspect as Ramsdale got across the goal, plus the timing and the power of getting the ball against the crossbar, superb. That power comes from the work he’s been doing in the gym.
“He’s very dedicated in that respect. His push-off, the timing in his hands, it’s got everything in it.
“There aren’t going to be many saves better than that this season.”
Gabriel had put Arsenal ahead and Emile Smith Rowe added a second before Leicester had a kick. But then the Ramsdale Show launched as the hosts woke up and took him on.
“I’m not too sure how I got to that free-kick,” said Ramsdale, 23, who cost Arsenal £24million from Sheffield United in August. “I’ve trained with Madders a couple of times and played with him a lot so I was more worried that he was going to reverse it to my side.
“Being so close to the wall he had to float it, which gave me a chance.”
The Gunners are unbeaten since Ramsdale got into the team and Steele added: “Aaron is known as ‘Rambo’ and the nickname suits him. He is a big personality.
“Aaron’s got a good 10 years in him. He can become as big a legend for Arsenal as David Seaman and Jens Lehmann. I said he’d be a late developer and we’re seeing that.”