Aaron Ramsdale has revealed that he holds no grudges against Mikel Arteta after completing his transfer to Southampton this summer.
The Arsenal boss congratulated the goalkeeper, thanking him for his contributions in helping the historic club reach the pinnacle of European football.
The 26-year-old took the right decision by moving to St. Mary’s after making just six appearances last season. He has now signed a four-year deal worth £25 million, including add-ons.
Many supporters weren’t pleased with the way Arteta treated the English shot-stopper. Things kind of unravelled for Ramsdale, who was once an undisputed starter in the Gunners line-up. David Raya’s permanent switch put an end to his hopes to recover his place in the starting XI.
What did Arteta said to Ramsdale after Saints switch?
Ramsdale has now revealed that there is no bad blood between him and the Arsenal manager. In fact, he thanked him for his support and received a similar gesture from Arteta.
In an interview with talkSPORT, he said:
“Yeah, I only spoke to him last week. What he did for me in my time at Arsenal, I can only thank him for and he thanked me for my contribution as well. It was tough but I’ve found a new home and I’m looking forward to playing again. You move on, there’s no bad blood and you’ve got to restart your career again.”
Getting replaced by Raya was a tough pill to swallow, but the talented keeper understood that it was the manager’s duty to take the decision.
“Ultimately, as top managers do, they have to make decisions that upset people. He made that decision, and we still speak.”
Aaron Ramsdale: “A manager’s decision is a manager’s decision.
“I tried my best to change his [Arteta’s] mind and force my way back in. His mind was set and David [Raya] had a great season.
“It was tough but now I found a new home,” he told @talkSPORT. pic.twitter.com/lTUZMVQZIP
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) September 12, 2024
The Englishman also revealed that he is looking forward to facing Arsenal when the two Premier League clubs meet on the 5th of October.
“I’m looking forward to getting some games under my belt here. We play them in a few weeks, which will be a nice return.”
Ramsdale handed a new life-line at Southampton
Ramsdale is a marque signing for Southampton, and the shot-stopper wasted no time claiming the No. 1 spot at St. Mary’s. He nudged competition from Alex McCarthy and Gavin Buzunuto but needs to perform consistently in order to keep them at bay.
He played in the 3-1 defeat to Brentford before the international break, making crucial saves. Next up is Manchester United, and the former Bees’ star will be motivated to showcase his incredible reflexes.
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The Englishman was excellent in his first season at the Emirates, and there is no doubting his skill sets. He just needs to work on his concentration, which could be one of the reasons behind Arteta snubbing him for Raya.
Last year, Ramsdale left fans stunned when he made a startling confession to Ian Wright on “Behind the Game.” He said that he couldn’t maintain his focus for the entire match, which left many worried about his vulnerabilities.
But now, the 26-year-old has the chance to keep the past troubles behind him and focus on a new start to life at Southampton. Who knows, his performances can help him move to another elite club in the future.
