- Ramsdale made his first Premier League start since late November
- The England international lost his starting place due to the arrival of Raya
- Arsenal are making mugs of us, showing they don’t need a number 9 and Kai Havertz has become Mikel Arteta’s go-to guy – It’s all Kicking Off podcast
Aaron Ramsdale produced a huge roar to give Brentford a first-half equalizer in their Premier League match at the Emirates on Saturday evening.
The England international, who was at the center of the fierce debate after being ousted by new David Raya, started in place of the Spaniard, who was not eligible to face his parent club.
Mikel Arteta’s side took an early lead through Declan Rice and were in complete control before the incident at the end of the first period.
After receiving a pass from Gabriel, Ramsdale delayed his clearance, allowing Yoane Wissa to slide in and block the kick, which bounced back into his net.
The Gunners players quickly rallied around the keeper after what could have been a costly mistake, but Arsenal recovered to secure a 2-1 win thanks to Kai Havertz’s winner which saw them top ahead of the meeting between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday. .
Aaron Ramsdale made a major blunder after returning to the Arsenal team against Brentford
Some Arsenal fans were quick to blast the goalkeeper, who was making his first appearance for the north Londoners since their last meeting with the Bees in November.
“Ramsdale would play ONE game in 2024 and he could still cost us the title,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
Another said: ‘Ramsdale man, just say hi to everyone in the dressing room now.’
Some Arsenal fans were brutal in their assessment of the goalkeeper after the costly mistake
Ramsdale celebrated wildly after Kai Havertz scored the crucial winner for the hosts
Mikel Arteta has praised Ramsdale’s response to his horror mistake against Brentford
A particularly cheeky version from one supporter read; ‘That ladies and gentlemen is the reason Aaron Ramsdale will never play for Arsenal Football Club again.’
‘I sympathize with Ramsdale, even though he should have done better.’ Said another. “I think it was good that Arsenal signed Raya, but for something like that to happen in the rare league match you get to play is cruel.”
However, Ramsdale was given credit after following up his mistake with a series of top saves to thwart the Bees – and was praised after the match by his boss Mikel Arteta – who said the team wanted to win for him.
“Really happy, especially because he did exactly what he is: a person of enormous personality and courage, very determined,” Arteta said. ‘Mistakes are part of football.
‘It’s just how you react to it, especially for the goalkeepers, which is probably the most difficult position. He did that in a great way. I’m not surprised because the whole team and the whole stadium were behind him. He has earned respect and admiration.
‘We really wanted to win for him.’