Paul Merson has criticised Aaron Ramsdale for the Arsenal goalkeeper’s role in Ivan Toney scoring for Brentford. The forward drew the Bees level for a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal grabbed a narrow lead in the London derby through Leandro Trossard (66’) after a poor first-half performance. Brentford enjoyed by far the better of the chances before the break. Even though the Gunners dominated possession, they did not find a breakthrough.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka created chances to put Mikel Arteta’s team ahead over the opening 45 minutes. But Eddie Nketiah struggled to impose himself through the centre of the home team’s attack. Yet nice play between Saka and Martin Odegaard fed Trossard.
Arsenal would only lead Brentford for eight minutes before Toney (74’) beat Ramsdale and got the Bees level again, though. The striker silenced the Emirates with his 14th goal of the Premier League season after 20 outings. He arrived having gone two games without a goal.
Ramsdale had also failed to keep a clean sheet in his previous two Premier League games. The £24m, rising to £30m after add-ons, former Sheffield United goalkeeper is now three appearances without a shut-out. He has also now conceded 18 goals through 21 matches.
Merson slams Ramsdale for the Arsenal star’s role in Toney’s goal for Brentford
Ramsdale has now gone three Premier League games without a clean sheet two times thus far this season. He also conceded in three-straight appearances against Fulham, Aston Villa and Manchester United at the end of August and into September for two wins and a loss.
This time, Arsenal have taken one win against Manchester United before losing at Everton and drawing with Brentford. And Gunners legend Merson believes Ramsdale should have done better to prevent Toney from scoring Brentford’s equaliser right after Arsenal scored.
Merson told Sky Sports News (11/02, 16:32): “A cross comes in, it’s a long free-kick. They keep it in the box, Toney’s at the far post, he hits it back in. It just keeps on going, it’s like a little bit of a scramble.
“Then all of a sudden – yeah, he’s onside – ‘keeper comes out, should get there, doesn’t get there. But if you come and don’t get it, that’s it. He comes, don’t get it. It flicks into the far post and there’s Toney [with an] empty goal just to head it in. He couldn’t miss.”
Despite only keeping two clean sheets during his five Premier League appearances in 2023, Ramsdale ranks second to Nick Pope for the Golden Glove. The Newcastle United star has 12 clean sheets across 21 games to Ramsdale’s nine in 21 ahead of visiting Bournemouth.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
