Arsenal told it’s ‘one big surprise’ how their £30m player was treated on national duty

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Stuart Pearce has claimed that it was ‘one big surprise’ when Arsenal number one, Aaron Ramsdale, was left on the bench by England once again, in favour of Nick Pope.

Gareth Southgate opted to play Newcastle’s number one against Italy last Friday and then on Monday night against Germany at Wembley, with former England left-back Pearce suggesting that Ramsdale is the better player.

There’s no doubt that Everton star Jordan Pickford is the undisputed number one, but his recent injury opened the door for Southgate to select a replacement.

Now, it’s pretty clear that Southgate thinks Pope is ahead of both Ramsdale and on-loan Nottingham Forest keeper, Dean Henderson.

But the former Burnley man’s mistake against Germany last night wouldn’t have helped matters, so Southgate better be praying that Pickford is fit and firing for Qatar.

Either way, Pearce was left surprised by how Ramsdale has been left on the bench throughout the international game week, as he told talkSPORT.

“The one big surprise for me, I must say, is probably Aaron Ramsdale,” said Pearce. “I thought he might play. I really did.

“Southgate probably deems Nick Pope the second-best choice behind the number one (Jordan Pickford). For me, he’s certainly an incredible shot-stopper. There’s no doubt about that.

“It’s probably the intricacies with the feet that probably has us wiggling on our seats. But he must see Pope as his number two.

“In the line-up of the XI players, this one surprised me, especially with Nick Pope playing the other night against Italy, I thought it would have been a decent opportunity for Ramsdale to get a game.”

RAMSDALE FRESH AND READY FOR ARSENAL

There would have been a number of Arsenal fans, and even England supporters, questioning the treatment of Ramsdale, but on a plus side, he is fresh for his domestic side.

The £30 million shot-stopper (Sky Sports) has a pretty big game coming up at the weekend, with north London rivals Tottenham making the short trip to the Emirates.

From being teammates with Eric Dier and Harry Kane, to within a matter of days, going head-to-head in a very big game against the duo.

Arsenal are sitting top of the Premier League table and they can be leapfrogged by Spurs, but equally, this is a great chance for Mikel Arteta to end Antonio Conte’s unbeaten start to the season.