Jamie Carragher now believes the Gunners will sell Aaron Ramsdale, as the chatter surrounding the 25-year-old Arsenal ace continues to rumble on.
Another day, another Aaron Ramsdale-driven conversation, as the media and pundits are not getting tired of this chatter anytime soon. The 25-year-old Arsenal ace has not played for the Gunners since before the international break during the home win over Manchester United.
The consensus from those around the club is that Mikel Arteta wants to experiment with his goalkeeping options at this suitable time. However, most in the media tend to believe that Ramsdale has lost his status as the club’s No.1 choice and that Raya has usurped his position.
Arteta has remained unfazed about the chatter, and so has Ramsdale to a certain extent. Some pundits have urged the 25-year-old Arsenal ace to leave the club at the earliest possible opportunity, and some reports claim the England international could consider his future.
Micah Richards provided another angle, suggesting Arsenal should have sold Ramsdale in the summer when they acquired Raya from Brentford. Others like Gabby Agbonlahor and Robbie Earle have echoed the general sentiment towards Ramsdale and urged him to depart the club.
Jamie Carragher, on the other hand, has been one of the vocal pundits on this Ramsdale issue. Last week, the former Liverpool man insisted Arsenal will not win the title with Ramsdale in goal. Following the North London Derby, he criticised the 25-year-old Arsenal ace for celebrating a sensational save by Raya in the first half.
There have since been lots of chatter surrounding Carragher and his views, with even Ramsdale’s father criticising the Sky Sports pundit. Now, in a new segment on The Overlap, Carragher insisted Arsenal will sell the 25-year-old next and potentially make Raya their undisputed No.1. He also reflected on a similar situation when Bernd Leno was their main keeper and believes two ‘No.1s’ cannot co-exist at a big club.
Carragher said, “I think Ramsdale is a good goalkeeper, I don’t think he’s a great one. “Raya has to prove himself as a great goalkeeper, but I think there is potential there to maybe take Arsenal to another level in the goalkeeping stakes.”
“But, no, you have to remember as well, Ramsdale was in this position himself – he came and took [Bernd] Leno’s place. “That was almost like there were two number ones, and Leno had to go, so one of them had to go, and it’ll be Ramsdale.”
The current situation at Arsenal does have a reminiscence of the Ramsdale-Leno period. The German eventually got relegated to the bench and decided to leave the club the very next summer. The England international, on the other hand, has gone on to forge a solid reputation as one of the top keepers in the league, but now his position is at stake.
Raya was shaky in the north London Derby, which shows either keeper are well within the chance to keep in goal for Arsenal. Arteta will bide his time before deciding the outcome of what has dragged into a saga of sorts when it comes to choosing the club’s undisputed No.1 for the season.