STROP SHOWED HOW MUCH AARON CARED
“In previous years it was the other way round, and my mum was probably the one struggling, with losing and relegation and things.
“That affected her more than him.
“Now it’s the other way, where I have a lot of responsibility on the ball and it gives him more of a heart attack.
“He walks in and out of the box 24/7 throughout the game. It’s just one of those things, it’s definitely taxing on the families as well because my mood for the whole weekend will revolve around the game.”
Asked what kind of viewing experience Arsenal fans can expect from the series, Ramsdale said: “I just hope they (viewers) get to see that we are just human.
“It’s one of the best jobs in the world, but one of the worst at the same time.
“Don’t get me wrong: This isn’t me preaching like, ‘Oh, everyone should feel sorry for us’.
“But one weekend it’s the best job in the world and you’re living on cloud nine and winning games, and the next week you lose against a team you shouldn’t lose to and it’s doom and gloom.”
ARSENAL’S return to European football this season is a step forward for Mikel Arteta and his squad, but after blowing the shoot-out with Tottenham for a Champions League spot, Thursday night excursions in the Europa League will feel like a petty cash tin instead of the treasure chest.
A season of more undulations than a links fairway is laid bare in an eight-part documentary released tomorrow.
Spoiler alert: Arsenal finish fifth, just behind fierce rivals Tottenham.
But Aaron Ramsdale’s emergence as the Gunners’ No 1 keeper was a key element of their revival after three consecutive defeats without a goal prompted Arteta to make a big call by dropping Bernd Leno.
A 1-0 win against lowly Norwich after Ramsdale’s installation coincided with Arsenal embarking on a 10-match unbeaten run.
It was also one in the eye for social media trolls who had warned Ramsdale his €29 million addition to the squad was unwelcome because he had been relegated with Bournemouth and Sheffield United in the previous two seasons.
He said: “At the very start it was difficult. I had a lot of negativity around the signing, with idiots online saying don’t sign — not necessarily death threats but threats saying, ‘We know where you live’ and things like that. Trying to scare me.
“Quite quickly I turned all that stuff off. It definitely felt safer for me, but also my family as well.”
In one scene from Arsenal: All Or Nothing, Ramsdale returns to the dressing room in an almighty strop, flinging his gloves down in disgust.
Devastated
The Gunners had just beaten Aston Villa 3-1, but Ramsdale was devastated by Jacob Ramsey’s late goal.
It makes him look a sore loser, but he explained: “It was early stages in my career being here and, in the previous two years, those goals would have resulted in either a draw or a defeat.
“My standards are high and I believe goal difference can be a huge factor. Just because we are winning 2-0 or 3-0 – the best teams punish and keep their foot on the throttle for 96 minutes.”