June 14th 2024.
Aaron Ramsdale, the 26-year-old goalkeeper for Arsenal, has made it clear to manager Mikel Arteta that he does not want to spend another season as a back-up player. This season, he only made 10 appearances in all competitions due to Arteta's decision to sign David Raya from Brentford on loan and make him the first-choice goalkeeper. Now, Arsenal is planning to sign Raya permanently for a whopping £27 million, and Ramsdale has caught the attention of Newcastle United. However, the club is not willing to meet Arsenal's valuation of £30 million.
Currently, Ramsdale is with the England squad as they prepare for their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on Sunday. It is expected that he will be on the bench, as manager Gareth Southgate has chosen Everton's Jordan Pickford as his first-choice goalkeeper. Despite this, Ramsdale has nothing but praise for Southgate, saying that the manager has clearly explained his role within the squad. He also mentions that his mentality changes when he joins up with the national team.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Ramsdale said, "I think Jordan has had the shirt and we've all been trying desperately hard for the past five years to get it off him and he's done incredibly well. And if he gets the nod then I hope he does incredibly well again because if he wins the tournament for me and I don't play a minute, it'll be the happiest day of my life."
Losing his place as Arsenal's No.1 to Raya was tough for Ramsdale, but he is now focused on his role with the national team. He mentions that squad numbers do not always mean everything, and that they are all fighting for the same goal. He also emphasizes the importance of competition within the team, saying that they cannot rely on just 11 players to win the tournament.
When asked about his role as a back-up player at Arsenal, Ramsdale replied, "It was tough, it was tough. But I have my release now, I'm now here, I've got the greatest honour, the greatest badge on my chest. I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I play a minute or no minutes, it will be the pinnacle for me, the best day ever. For the time being, I'm probably one of the happiest 26, 27 men in England and hopefully we can make not just us but however many millions at home the happiest as well."
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