V RAM RAID Gunners star gives Southgate No.1 headache
WORLDIE OF A SAVE
AARON RAMSDALE is now in a scrap with Jordan Pickford to be England’s No.1, according to Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions head coach said Arsenal’s new first-choice keeper would be getting “a taste” of the action for the seniors after impressing for the Gunners.
Ramsdale, 23, is yet to be on the losing side with Mikel Arteta’s men following his £24million move from Sheffield United.
Contest
He has conceded just four goals in eight matches – earning rave reviews last week for the save from Leicester’s James Maddison.
And Southgate (right) has set the scene for a battle with Everton man Pickford.
He said: “Yes, there’s a contest on – and that’s good for everyone.
“We’ve got competition for every position and there’s no reason why that should not be the case in goal.
“One of the things I’m conscious of is when players travel and don’t always play, it has got a shelf life. With goalkeepers, that has caused quite a few to retire from international football.
“We’ve tried to manage that with Nick Pope and Sam Johnstone and a few others. We have tried to give them a taste. And we’ll be doing that with Aaron.
“Jordan gave an excellent performance at
Wolves with Everton but he needs pushing.
He’s been outstanding for us, but he can’t take a step back.
“He needs to keep improving and keeping on top of his form as well.”
Ramsdale has been around the England set-up at junior levels and did his chances of making the senior ranks no harm when he joined up as a late replacement for Dean
Henderson after the Manchester United keeper withdrew from the Euros squad through injury.
Southgate added: “When we picked Aaron in the summer, we got stick for picking a keeper who had just been relegated with Sheffield United. It’s funny how things change.
“But one of the reasons we brought him in was that we knew his personality from the Under-20s and Under-21s.
“He’d been across to train with us previously.
“We felt he fitted in with the group really well. He understood that his role was to sacrifice for the group’s benefit.
“That goalkeeping fraternity, they have a huge respect for each other.
“Generally speaking, they all understand that one day they’ll be playing and they’ll want the other keepers to help them prepare in the way they would want. That’s an impressive trait that they all – or nearly all – have.
“So, he’s got the personality.
“And he’s ended up in the Premier League at a very young age with Bournemouth and Sheffield United. They were brave decisions.
“I talked to Eddie Howe recently about it. Eddie did a brilliant thing for Aaron’s career by playing him at Bournemouth.
Attributes
“He’s got super attributes, not only of his ability to keep the ball out of the net, but also his distribution and ability with his feet.
“In the modern game, at the club he’s at and the way we want to play, they are vastly important.
“Of course, he’s got to do this now over a longer period of time.
“But his performances at the end of last season were very good and his performances at the beginning of this season have been very good as well.”