Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has sounded out his intention to be Gunner’s main captain from the 2022-2023 season onward. The newly signed keeper hasn’t been with the club for a whole season yet but his stock and recognition have risen beyond his early days.
The England international and former Sheffield United keeper cost the Gunners £24million, which was hugely criticized by the fans and several pundits considering his unimpressive stats at his previous clubs.
For a player coming in as a second fiddle to Bernd Leno, Ramsdale has been putting in consistent and tremendous performances since coming into the fold at the early stage of the season against Norwich City in September.
Aaron Ramsdale hasn’t looked back since making his first Premier League appearance for the Gunners.
Speaking of his new environment: “With Bernd Leno pushing me every day, I know I can’t sit back and take it easy because he’ll take the number one spot off me just as quickly as I took it off him.
“He’s been good with me – we fight for the same spot, but we have each other’s backs too. For me, it’s not about what happens months into the first season – I’d prefer to be judged four or five years down the line.
“I thought [that becoming the number one] would be a process of four months, maybe a year, but I was ready. I felt settled straight away, knowing some of the lads, and the manager made it so easy for me by saying, ‘Just go and play your game.’ Once I’d got in, it was so comfortable for me to do my stuff.
“The fans have been amazing with me, too. There was a bit of unrest when I signed – people were talking about me being a second-choice goalkeeper, costing a lot of money and the relegations – but that just gave me added motivation to win them over.”
His confidence, charisma, ability, passion, and leadership qualities haven’t gone unnoticed, making the backline to be as compact as possible, conceding fewer goals than in previous seasons.
Though he’s just young and new on the team, his leadership qualities can’t be overemphasized. He has been vocal on the pitch, keeping his defenders on their toes, making several corrections, and adjustments, and boosting their confidence with some impressive saves.
Since the departure of former skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Barcelona in January, Alexandre Lacazette has been taking up the responsibilities of captaining the young side despite heading towards the end of his contract this summer.
Aaron Ramsdale disclosed to FourFourTwo his intention to become Arsenal’s next captain: “Listen, I’d take the responsibility but that’s down to the manager.
“We’ve got a lot of strong characters, though, and a lot of people who I think would be good captains.
“Just to be told ‘you’re in a leadership role’ – I’d relish whatever. You never turn down a captaincy and I think I’d excel if I was given the armband, but that’s down to the boss.”
With the season still ongoing, the captaincy decision will have to wait till the summer when the gaffer and the team decide who leads the team from next season onward.
