Aaron Ramsdale has begged Gareth Southgate for the same trust he is showing Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips while he sorts out his Arsenal career… and his dad. That would give him the month he has set for himself as a target to get back into the Arsenal team.
Having played against Scotland in the September international, Ramsdale was just an interested spectator as first Sam Johnstone and then Jordan Pickford carried out the goalkeeping duties this month, against Australia and Italy respectively. At Arsenal, Ramsdale lost his place to David Raya at the beginning of September and has played just one Carabao Cup game for Arsenal since.
Since then tension in the Ramsdale family has clearly been running high and spilled over when Jamie Carragher mocked the 25-year-old for applauding a Raya save during the north London derby. His father, Nick, posted on X, formally known as Twitter: “You are a Disgrace!! Show some class!! My lad has.”
However, with Euro 2024 qualification now secured, there is no time for a war of words. “This isn’t the first time my name has been in the press and it has been more negative stuff so I have drowned it out before,” Ramsdale said.
“It doesn’t help that my dad does it – but it was on a golf trip in Spain with 19 other lads from the local pub – to be honest, I wasn’t too mad at him, he didn’t say anything out of turn, it’s just wasn’t helpful for the situation, he knew that. He obviously just had a few too many on the golf course!
“But it’s a decision I chose three years ago with my social media, turning things off. So a lot of things slip through the wayside for me, so I know there’s a lot of noise but it doesn’t affect me.”
Instead, Ramsdale’s focus is firmly on being the Arsenal’s No 1 choice again by the time the England squad reconvenes next month for the games against North Macedonia and Malta. “I need to get back into my club team first,” he said.
“My focus now turns to Chelsea on Saturday. Of course, they are two games which I could target and try and play, but first and foremost I’ve got to give the manager a decision and be available to be picked and that is by getting back into my club team if that’s the case.
“Southgate has been brilliant. He trusts the players he’s worked with before as we’ve seen in different types of ways – you’ll see Kalvin and Harry haven’t played the most amount of minutes but when they step up for England and are given the opportunity, they perform.
“So if that’s the case for myself and I do get shown that trust to play another game if I haven’t played for my club then I will have to repay him. But I want to get into my club team and be able to give the manager a headache rather than just have Jordan as the number one and me fall by the wayside.”
