AARON’S GUNNER FIX IT

Ramsdale fired up to create a new era of glory at Arsenal after a tough start

AARON RAMSDALE sensed Arsenal was a club that needed fixing from the moment he walked through the door.

He admits it was a club in transition, lacking leaders on the pitch and struggling in the shadow of past glories.

Now, a month since getting his chance, the £30million keeper has played a major part in lifting Arsenal’s fortunes and his performances have earned him an England recall.

“The club’s been in a difficult situation for a while,” he said. “Obviously the performances on the pitch haven’t been great.

“The club have been in transition. You can sense the history as soon as you walk through the doors that the club isn’t happy where they are. We want European football. It’s a young team so it’s step by step. It might have to be the Europa League and then the Champions League. You understand the pressures that brings, but it’s an enjoyable challenge, and when the highs are high they’re really high.

“Around the training ground, you see the history. You’ve got the Invincibles on the walls, so you understand the history of the club. It’s now our time for us to put some new history on the wall.”

The 23-year-old has established himself as a fans’ favourite with his fistpumping leadership, bellowing instructions and celebrating big saves as if they were last-minute winners. His arrival was greeted with little enthusiasm by supporters because of his price tag and two successive relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United. But after replacing Bernd Leno a month ago, Ramsdale has kept three clean sheets in four league games and found a connection with fans.

He said: “When I came in I got told to be myself and my character is to be loud, be a leader and show passion. That’s why I’ve been brought to the club, to be myself. But the fist bumps to the crowd... Bukayo Saka scores and everyone runs to Bukayo and I’m on my own, so my team-mates become the fans.

“I celebrate with them and sometimes my celebrations look like I’ve scored. That’s the pure emotion and hard work to get the win, so it all comes out.

“It’s well documented they were missing leaders. I don’t think we’ve all of a sudden turned into leaders, I just think this team at the moment we’re working together, earning each other’s respect and playing better football.”

Ramsdale admits selfconfidence - a trait he feels he got from his parents and from being released by Bolton as a kid for being too small – is vital to his game. But he insists it is not just about being loud: “David de Gea, one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a number of years, previously he’s been a quiet character.

“People have a stigma that teams that win trophies have a loud, crazy goalkeeper, but I don’t think Iker Casillas was that sort of personality, he was just one of the world’s best.”