Former Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale says the scrutiny he received in the wake of being dropped for David Raya did his “head in”.
26-year-old Ramsdale joined Southampton in the summer and faces his old side on Saturday for the first time since ending his three-year stay in north London.
Raya replaced Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No 1 last season after arriving on loan from Brentford in a move that has since been made permanent.
Ramsdale told BBC Sport before his return to the Emirates: “It used to do my head in coming off the pitch and then my wife would say ‘Oh, you were on the TV five times again today’.
“Why someone would then pan to me after someone makes a save, or a goal goes in and it pans to me on the bench.
“I do think the story was bigger than what it needed to be. I do think it put pressure on David (Raya) at times, as well.”
The England ‘keeper was limited to FA Cup and League Cup appearances for Arsenal last term, making 10 appearances in all competitions, with only six of those coming in the Premier League.
“I did an interview with David Seaman about my new contract (in May, 2023) and I wanted to emulate him and be there (at Arsenal) for eight, 10 years and a couple of months later I was out of the team,” he said.
“He (Raya) was actually the first person to text me on my move here (to Southampton) out of the Arsenal boys.
“He was great. He was top and, like I say, he has made some big, big saves this season and kept them in some games and (I’m) just desperate he doesn’t have one of those games on Saturday.”
Ramsdale’s Southampton are 19th in the table having taken just one point from their opening six games of the new campaign.
(Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
