Aaron Ramsdale was a touch fortunate in Arsenal’s victory at West Ham United on Sunday.
The Gunners secured a massive 2-1 win in East London to move fourth in the Premier League table, with four games to go.
However, there was a controversial moment in the second half involving the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Ramsdale, a £30 million signing last summer, raced off his line to intercept an over-the-top ball.
The former Sheffield United goalkeeper went slid into Jarrod Bowen – who equalised for the Hammers during the first half – and the latter went to ground.
However, Bowen was booked for simulation and television replays vindicated Mike Dean after it was discovered that the Arsenal player made no contact with the player.
However, Ramsdale’s boot was significantly off the ground and Michael Carrick, speaking to Premier League Productions, believes that Bowen might’ve intentionally tried to avoid the challenge due to the risk of serious injury, admitting the Gunners star made him ‘wince’.
He said: “With a straight leg and your studs up, that’s a risk. If that catches any part of Bowen that’s a really naughty, nasty injury. Bowen got out the way because he thought he was going to make contact. For me that’s on the goalkeeper. That’s not Bowen diving. It’s almost making me wince. Ramsdale isn’t in control, is he?”
In Ramsdale’s defence, Bowen had no problem with the yellow card.
It wasn’t contested by the West Ham player in the slightest.
That’s an admission that he did voluntarily go to ground, but it doesn’t mean that Carrick is wrong if the player only went down to avoid contact with the Arsenal star’s studs.
It’s a very complex incident and really, the main issue is that Bowen did avoid injury.
But if that’s the bigger picture, it does highlight what a dangerous tackle it was by the Gunners stopper in the first place.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
