WILSON: AARON A SPECIAL ONE
ARSENAL are flying – just like their acrobatic No.1 between the posts, Aaron Ramsdale. It’s now eight clean sheets in 15 league appearances for the sensational England goalkeeper and what a platform that is providing for Mikel Arteta’s top-four contenders, who are bang in form.
And few have been more impressed with the remarkable rise of Ramsdale than Arsenal legend Bob Wilson.
The 1971 Double-winning keeper and former Gunners coach for 28 years has watched on in awe as the club’s £30million summer signing has produced one stunning save after another.
What particularly stands out to Wilson, in terms of shot-stopping ability, is the way Ramsdale seemingly defies gravity.
He may be only 6ft 2in but the ex-sheffield United and Bournemouth man’s agility negates that as he somehow gets additional leverage while flinging himself in mid-air.
Wilson, 80, said: “It is extraordinary. He’s roughly the same height as I was in my prime but that’s not tall for the modern keeper.
“Yet he has this incredible gymnastic, athletic ability which is so rare. He just takes off and then propels himself while in the air that little bit further to make a save.
“It’s like he’s on a trampoline. He makes saves that others cannot make.
“Peter Schmeichel called his save at
Leicester this season one of the greatest he’s seen – that’s high praise from one of the greatest keepers of all.
“And David
Seaman, who I coached at Arsenal and still know very well, is equally impressed.
“Aaron may not have the presence of David or Pat
Jennings when in his area – but then who could? They were like nobody else.
“What he does have, though, is this intensity from the first minute to the last. He never stops. He is a character with great courage.
That’s massive.
“It’s why the Arsenal fans have fallen in love with him after 15 games or so. He connects with them.”
Wilson, who made more than 400 Arsenal appearances from 1963-74, is equally complimentary about Ramsdale’s unwavering focus throughout 90 minutes. “I study what Aaron does when the ball is down the other end – and he simply never switches off,” added
Wilson. “A keeper should never stop watching the game, must be prepared for a shot from anywhere. Aaron has this and it’s something that is natural.”
NORWICH face a monumental battle to escape the drop in a Premier League campaign
which has already cost their promotion-winning manager his job. Daniel Farke was relieved of his duties in November and replaced by Dean Smith, who had also just been given the chop at Aston Villa. A win and two draws in his first three matches hinted at a revival. But three defeats on the spin have left Norwich marooned.
And history suggests they’ll struggle to
recover.