Ramsdale has not started a league game since the start of September (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta made it clear that Aaron Ramsdale remains a key member of Arsenal’s squad and looked to downplay any talk of a January departure for the second-choice goalkeeper.
Ramsdale has found himself usurped in the pecking order after David Raya’s summer arrival from Brentford, with the Englishman failing to start a Premier League game since the start of September.
Such a pronounced lack of game time has caught the attention of England boss Gareth Southgate who hinted that his chances of making the Euro 2024 squad could well be impacted.
‘There is a reality as a keeper, if we get to March and he’s six months without playing regularly, then I’m never going to promise things that I couldn’t guarantee delivering,’ Southgate said on Thursday when announcing his England squad for the upcoming international break.
Ramsdale’s predicament could well force the 25-year-old to look for a move in January to ensure regular minutes for the rest of the team.
However, Arteta was keen to dismiss such a notion ahead of the window’s opening in a month and half.
‘I have no messages for other clubs,’ the Spaniard said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Gunners’ clash with Burnley.
The Englishman may have a decision to make in January if he can’t usurp David Raya (Picture: Getty)
‘I can talk about my players, how much I like my players, how much I like Aaron. We want Aaron with us, that’s for sure.’
Ramsdale has not commented publicly on the prospect of a January move, but Arteta was also keen to re-affirm the Englishman’s importance to the squad and warned him to not make any rash decisions about his future.
‘Well, first of all, my door is open to speak to any player, we just want the best for our players, and we try to do that,’ he added.
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‘We will always try to do our best to help them, but this is a team sport that needs 24 players that have to fulfil a role.
‘This is a team sport and that needs the 24 players that you have to fulfil a role. The role that you have in August might be very different to the one you have in March. Making early decisions in my experience is not something good at all.
‘The team has certain needs that have to be accomplished and in order to do that you cannot do it with six, 10 or 14 players – it is impossible. You need everyone and Aaron has a really important role in the team.’
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The Spaniard has made his position clear.