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Steve Nicol says ‘unbelievable’ Arsenal star needs to hand transfer request in
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been criticised by Steve Nicol for his handling of the goalkeeper situation at the Emirates Stadium.
The pundit believes Aaron Ramsdale has “had enough” at Arsenal and “this is all Arteta‘s fault”, urging the Gunners keeper to hand a transfer request in ‘ASAP’.
Ramsdale joined Arsenal in 2021 and quickly dethroned Bernd Leno to become first-choice in between the sticks, making a name for himself as a top keeper.
The £30million signing was the Gunners first-choice for two seasons, but this changed earlier this season after Arsenal signed David Raya.
Arteta opted to drop Ramsdale and make Raya his first-choice keeper. The England international has not started a Premier League game since September 3.
‘We did not have a clue’
Since Raya moved from Brentford this summer, Arteta has insisted that Arsenal have two No. 1 goalkeepers.
However, Ramsdale’s father Nick recently claimed that the Arsenal manager has relegated his son to second-choice without telling him that was the case.
“We did not have a clue [Ramsdale was going to be dropped],” he said on Arsenal fan channel .
“I didn’t have a clue, our family didn’t have a clue, Aaron didn’t have a clue that he was not going to carry on playing. All of a sudden, he’s not been played.
“You just have to look at it personally and I’m probably saying too much but: Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper.
“And David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off.
“And Aaron’s got to live with that and he is living with that even though he’s not been told it. By anybody.”
‘Ramsdale’s had enough’
Nicol, speaking on the , is firmly in Ramsdale’s corner, criticising both Arteta and even Raya in the process.
“It does look as though Ramsdale’s had enough and actually, this is all Arteta’s fault,” he said.
“The only way that Ramsdale was ever going to accept this was Raya being outstanding and then he can’t say anything.
“Arteta’s decided to go with Raya at the start of the season and the only way that Ramsdale can not have any problems is if Raya’s been outstanding, but the fact is he hasn’t been outstanding.
“If I’m Ramsdale I’ve got a transfer request in, absolutely ASAP.”
Arsenal now in damage limitation mode – TBR View
It’s sad to see this whole debacle playing out in public.
Ramsdale is an “unbelievable” talent and he certainly deserves to be playing first-team football.
However, we have to see now whether he’ll get another chance at Arsenal in wake of his father’s comments on Highbury Squad.
Arteta is known for being ruthless, and he probably won’t appreciate any behind-the-scenes business being aired in public.
Perhaps the best thing would be for the two parties to go their separate ways in the January transfer window. Ramsdale certainly won’t be short of suitors.