Arsenal Releases Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale With One Condition

JAKARTA - Arsenal have no objection to releasing goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on one condition. However, legendary goalkeeper Arsenal David Seaman asked Ramsdale to stay in North London.

Ramsdale hopes to leave Arsenal soon after losing his position as first goalkeeper. This season, David Raya won Ramsdale's position. Ironically, the Spanish national team goalkeeper is a loan player from Brentford.

Previously, Ramsdale was Mikel Arteta's first choice. He became a mainstay when he was standing under the bar even though Arsenal finally failed to win the 2022/2023 Premier League title. Arsenal was overtaken by Manchester City in the final weeks of the competition.

Only, after Raya's arrival with a loan status, he immediately lost his place.

Arteta prefers Raya which ends up only sitting on the bench. In the aftermath, this season Ramsdale has only played three times over the past three months.

The status as the second goalkeeper put Ramsdale in danger of losing his place in the England national team. The 25-year-old goalkeeper is indeed the second after Jordan Pickford.

If he is rarely played, England's manager Gareth Southgate would definitely ignore Ramsdale.

Moreover, the England national team has an abundant stock of goalkeepers. Apart from Pickford, there are Sam Johnstone, Dean Henderson, and James Trafford.

Not including Nick Pope if he recovers from a shoulder injury. The Newcastle United goalkeeper is still on Southgate's radar. Arsenal in the end has no objection if Ramsdale leaves Emirates. However, the Gunners will only release Ramsdale when it is certain to make Raya permanent.

According to the plan, Arsenal is ready to redeem Raya for 27 million. Fabrizio Romano, an expert and player transfer observer at a European club, said Arsenal had not yet received an offer from another club. If anyone is interested, the club will release Ramsdale.

"Aaron Ramsdale could have left if there was an attractive offer from another club. If there is a big offer, the club will be tempted to sell players. Especially if the player is not a starter like Ramsdale," said Romano.

Although there has been no offer, rumors circulated that Ramsdale was the target of Newcastle United. He is projected to be the first goalkeeper to replace Pope with a shoulder injury.

In addition, Chelsea lost main goalkeeper Robert Sanchez due to a knee injury. Ramsdale is considered worthy of Sanchez.

However, David Seaman, former Arsenal goalkeeper, asked Ramsdale not to go this January. According to him, it would be better for Ramsdale to wait until the end of the competition.

"He is the England goalkeeper number two. He really wants to appear in the 2024 European Cup (Euro). So, he really wants a chance to play," said Seaman.

"However, I hope he doesn't leave this January. He's better off waiting until the end of the season and we'll see what happens," he said.

Arteta himself also did not expect to lose Ramsdale. However, he also could not provide a solution so Ramsdale could regularly play. The manager still chose Raya as the main goalkeeper rather than Ramsdale.