Arsenal goalkeeper talks to ESPN

The mix of youthful exuberance, freedom of expression and unexpected qualities that propelled Arsenal to the Premier League title race is arguably best represented by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

When the 24-year-old was named Goalkeeper of the Year at last week’s London Football Awards, he faced huge opposition from the Gunners fanbase after making a £24m move from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021. I tend to forget. These supporters are skeptical of his resume after he was twice relegated from his flight to the top of English football in his fledgling career, but mainly for his performance consistency as well. We see him as a cult hero by showing the strength of character that Arsenal lacked. in recent years.

Ramsdale is often absent-minded in his on-pitch activity. To please the Arsenal fans and grieve the rest of them, they will try to stay away from the lines and smother the danger or launch attacks with quick and brave dispensation while engaging with the supporters during the match.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga and more (US)

But there was a moment in January when this Badinage turned sour. After the Gunners’ 2–0 win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Ramsdale kissed the club’s badge and stuck his tongue out at rival supporters before heading over to get a bottle of water. I was. It’s just such an exchange that would endear him to Arsenal fans, but one Spurs supporter was upset enough to run down from the stands, climb an ad hoard, kick Ramsdale from behind, and hit multiple opponents on either side. caused a brawl involving the player.

The Tottenham fan in question, 35-year-old Joseph Watts, later pleaded guilty to assault with a bludgeoning in Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court and was banned from participating in football matches for four years and issued a 12-month community order to £100 was paid as compensation. Ramsdale. Although Ramsdale was unharmed, the incident questioned the assumption that the pitch was always a safe place.

“What happens on the pitch does not justify a spectator entering the field or attacking a player,” the Professional Footballers’ Association later said in a statement. Although exempt, it might have been enough to make Ramsdale question his zeal.

Reflecting on what happened for the first time since that day, he told ESPN: It should be the safest place for a footballer and I worry about what it would be like to be off the pitch walking in the streets or going for walks with my fiancée.

“But on the football side, it was one person who made a mistake and apologized. Out of 150, 180 games, it has never happened and I hope it never happens again.” [Up to] 98% of stadiums consider it good intentions and a joke. It’s only gotten out of control once, but like I said, he apologized and we moved on.

Lost in the pandemonium of the moment was the fact that Ramsdale was named Player of the Match for a string of crucial saves, despite Arsenal’s overwhelming Tottenham victory. Behind the scenes, of course, we hope to strengthen our bond with the people who support Arsenal and win our first Premier League title since 2004.

“You leave home just like us. [last] It’s against Fulham on Sunday,” said Ramsdale. they. You just scored a goal, let’s celebrate. Even if it wasn’t for the whole crowd, you’d hear murmurs of ‘England’s number one’ and ‘Aaron Ramsdale and others’.

“So it gives us such a boost and obviously [ex-Arsenal goalkeepers] David Seaman and Bob Wilson in and around the football field, near me…a smile on David’s face as they sing about goalkeepers playing in England. [it] It will definitely fill you with great confidence. ”

That confidence was put to the test early in his Arsenal career. When the club allowed Emiliano Martinez, who would go on to win the World Cup with Argentina after signing Bernd Leno as number one, to join Aston Villa for £20m last summer, Ramsdale There was widespread surprise at the club’s decision to pursue a

Ramsdale later revealed, “I have received a lot of negative feedback online. People are either idiots telling me not to sign or trying to scare me by saying ‘I know where you live.’ He said he had received a “threat to Sheffield United, first team at Bournemouth, Chesterfield and his AFC Wimbledon loan period.

Arsenal themselves were initially planning a move for Brentford’s David Raya and were linked with Ajax’s Andre Onana (who later moved to Inter Milan), but Lumsdale has also been on the table for some time and is headed A series of personal phone calls with coach Mikel Arteta convinced him. Something special is starting to take shape.

Arsenal spent £142m that summer to sign six new players, including Lumsdale (£24m), Ben White (£50m) and Martin Audegaard (£40m). Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah.

Arteta’s desire to play from the back of the team and the transfer fee of Ramsdale put pressure on Leno’s position. He was replaced by Ramsdale in the match against Norwich on the 11th.

However, Ramsdale was not a natural ball-playing goalkeeper. This fact partly explains why his father Nick became the unexpected star of Amazon’s “All or Nothing” documentary about Arsenal. Striker Teemu Pukki is playing to build the attack.

“He still hates it. He absolutely hates it,” Ramsdale said. “I still threaten to text Mikel. The only problem is if I say ‘go on, don’t do it’ too much he will actually do it because he has the phone number! must be played very carefully.

“It wasn’t something that came naturally to me. I was released from Bolton because I was taller and couldn’t kick the ball. He left a huge mark on Sheffield United and the coaches in his early years: “When I first got into this system, they were a little bit more honed than they would be at training with the outfielders or at a football club. I went on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help coach the young goalkeepers.” When I was a youth team player, I spent nights trying to make a little more money, or playing possessions for the U16s. Or played as an outfielder. Play with both feet. It has always evolved.”

Ramsdale is drawn to Arteta’s unique motivational techniques, but it is a testament to Arteta’s coaching that every player can provide a concrete example of how they have improved under Arteta’s guidance.Played Liverpool’s anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in training to prepare players for the intensity at Anfield [although that backfired in a 4-0 defeat] Arteta instructed Arsenal to bring a replica of the Clock End clock at Highbury (now Emirates Stadium) into Fulham’s dressing room to make the trip feel like home.

“He came up with these things to try to get us going,” Ramsdale said. Sometimes we find the difference on TV.It’s his way of trying to get us to switch on before the game, before the warm match.When he’s resting, he lives and breathes football. Check it out. Clock 1 was another genius idea. increase. .

“I thought ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was a little bit funny. Obviously the goalkeepers are there much earlier than the players, so they’re just training and the next thing is a big loud noise.” You can hear it.. Looking back, they’re walking to the music.It’s so common now that young people warm up to a little music.It doesn’t matter what kind of music it is. No. Some may not, but we’re just trying to find that balance.”

Arsenal are eight points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, but are 10 games away from winning the title ahead of the international break and surpassing all expectations.

Ramsdale, like many of his teammates, is determined to live in the moment to embrace the excitement of the opportunities they have created. We were talking about playing each game as if it were. But can it really hold up as the pressure of break-in mounts?

“It may be a little different for the team, but that’s how I see it,” he added. “Some people like the pressure of being number one and being chased.

“It’s like when you were playing with your mates again. You have the feeling that you’re going to win, but you don’t take it for granted. Suddenly it’s 2-0, 3-0 and you’re on cruise control. I feel great just being around you.”