Gary Neville has admitted that Aaron Ramsdale isn’t his type of goalkeeper, but thinks the Arsenal star was faultless against Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal made the short trip across North London on Sunday afternoon, knowing that a win over bitter rivals Tottenham would send them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s men were outstanding in the first half and took a 2-0 lead through a Hugo Lloris own goal and a superb Martin Odegaard strike.
Tottenham – as they usually do – looked more dangerous in the second half but it was too little, too late.
Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners and goalkeeper Ramsdale was simply outstanding as he kept a clean sheet for the Gunners.
Gary Neville hails Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale
Ramsdale racked up seven saves for Arsenal in a superb performance.
A huge one came from Son Heung-min in the first half with the Tottenham star having a great chance to make it 1-1, only for Ramsdale to deny him.
Ramsdale blocked a Harry Kane header before half time, and then parried a powerful Kane strike past the post after the break.
Ryan Sessegnon appeared to have the golden chance as he broke in down the left but again, Ramsdale was there to make the save.
Ramsdale was understandably buzzing at the full-time whistle and one Tottenham fan simply embarrassed themselves by kicking the Arsenal stopper.
Nothing will dampen Ramsdale’s joy though and he has now received huge praise from pundit Gary Neville.
Neville has told Sky Sports that Ramsdale isn’t really his style of goalkeeper and really questioned Arsenal signing him whilst selling Emiliano Martinez.
Neville noted that he prefers a more dominant goalkeeper if he was being honest, feeling that he tries to get ‘too involved’.
Yet Neville felt that Ramsdale simply didn’t put a foot wrong against Arsenal, praising him after a quality performance.
“I’ll be really honest with you, and open, when I looked at Ramsdale, the price tag, getting rid of Martinez… I wasn’t sure,” said Neville. “He’s not my style of goalkeeper, I’ll be really honest with you. He wants to get too involved, I like a big goalkeeper, 6ft 3in, 6ft 4in, really dominant, scares opposition forwards. But he is more of a modern goalkeeper and I have to say, today, that is the most composed I’ve seen him.”
“I just thought his positions in terms of sweeping up behind his back line, his positions on his saves in terms of making sure he made the big saves in the game, coming out and dominating his box and punching or catching when needed, I don’t think he put a foot wrong,” he added.
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