Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher has praised the start that Aaron Ramsdale has made to his Arsenal career after initially questioning his transfer, speaking on Sky Sports (20/11 17:42).
The former England centre-back doubted if Ramsdale had the quality the Gunners’ need in goal when he joined the club. But Carragher’s hesitance was never down to the fee paid.
Arsenal paid Sheffield United an initial £24m in a deal that could reach £30m for Ramsdale to rival Bernd Leno. The add-ons are based on his domestic performances, meaning Mikel Arteta’s side did not have to pay the Blades anything extra after his recent England debut.
Gareth Southgate handed Ramsdale his England bow against San Marino on Monday after a superb run of form for Arsenal. The 23-year-old had kept five clean sheets over his first eight Premier League games with the north London outfit, before the international break.
Along with impressing Southgate, Ramsdale’s form between the sticks with Arsenal has also changed Carragher’s perception of the Chesterton-born shot-stopper.
“I must say, I was one of those [who questioned Arsenal signing Ramsdale]”, Carragher said. “I could not believe it when Arsenal signed him, I really couldn’t. Nothing to do with the price tag, I just wasn’t sure he had the quality at all.
“It’s still early days in his Arsenal career, but what a start the lad’s made. Not just as a goalkeeper, you see the personality in the dressing room, as well.”
Carragher: ‘Arteta has got his goalkeeper to thank’
Carragher latter added further praise for Ramsdale after the Arsenal goalkeeper produced a superb save to stop Mohamed Salah from putting Liverpool ahead in the 34th-minute.
“Unbelievable goalkeeping,” he enthused. “Mikel Arteta has got his goalkeeper to thank, because what happened on the touchline before has raised the bar in this game.”
Ramsdale got down to his left-hand side extremely quickly to stop Salah slotting the ball into the Arsenal net.
Kostas Tsimikas had found the Egyptian on the edge of the six-yard box in a pocket of space between Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey.
Sadio Mane would soon put Liverpool ahead to deny Ramsdale an eighth Arsenal clean sheet in all competitions, however.
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