Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has indicated he “never” wants to go another year playing as little as he did in the 2023-24 campaign.
Ramsdale, who is part of England’s squad for Euro 2024, began the last season as the Gunners’ first choice. However, after losing his spot to summer signing David Raya, he ended the campaign with just a handful of league outings.
The 26-year-old has been linked with a summer exit as he aims to secure first team football. Nothing is set in stone, though, and he said reports of a Newcastle switch were news to him.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta indicated he had no desire to offload Ramsdale, a player who he signed for the club back in 2021. Still, the keeper’s latest comments make clear exactly where he stands on his lack of minutes.
“No footballer wants to not play,” Ramsdale told talkSPORT in the lead-up to England’s Euros opener. “I’ve had a tough year personally not playing and I never want to do that again.”
He admitted it was “tough” to lose his place to Raya, but said international duty has given him a release. “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 [and England win the Euros], it will be the pinnacle for me, the best day ever,” he said.
“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.”
Ramsdale started for England in their final Euro 2024 warm-up friendly as Gareth Southgate’s team lost 1-0 against Iceland. The selection cemented his place as the Three Lions’ second choice, with Everton’s Jordan Pickford due to start the first group game against Serbia.
“When you come to the national team, when you find your role, when you know your role, which Gareth is very good at speaking to you about, your mentality changes,” he said, “I would do absolutely anything if he said I was number three, number four, number one, I would do anything for the team, I’d be on the training pitch for four hours if I could.
“Competition is what we need, we don’t want 11 players who are going to pick itself, we want to give headaches to the staff, we can’t just rely on 11 players for seven games if you want to win the tournament.”
