Mikel Arteta breaks silence on Aaron Ramsdale January transfer after Gareth Southgate hinted at England Euro 2024 axe

6 months ago 41

AARON RAMSDALE has no chance of being loaned out by Arsenal in the New Year just to boost his England chances.

The out-of-favour keeper has been warned by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate that he needs to be playing regular first-team football if he is going to make the squad for next summer’s European Championships.

But Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he expects Ramsdale to stay at the Emirates even if it means continuing to play second fiddle to David Raya.

Ramsdale, 25, has not started a Premier League or Champions League game for the Gunners for the past two months and will once again be on the bench for Saturday’s home game against Burnley.

And though he is still in Southgate’s England squad for the forthcoming internationals against Malta and North Macedonia, he knows that he is living on borrowed time.

Arteta said: “I haven’t spoken to Aaron about his situation but my door is always open to any player.

“We want what is best for all our players and will always try to do our best to help them.

“But this is a team sport that needs 24 players and they all have a role to fulfil.

“The role you have in August might be very different to the one you have in March, so in my experience making early decisions is not something good at all.

“The team has certain needs and we cannot do that with 14 players. That is impossible.

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“So Aaron has a really important role at the club and we want him with us at Arsenal, that’s for sure.”

Ramsdale, a £30million signing from Sheffield United in 2021, was an ever-present when Arsenal finished Premier League runners-up last season.

But he has suddenly found himself relegated to back-up keeper following the surprise summer signing of Spanish international Raya on loan from Brentford with the option of a £30million move next year.

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