Arteta explains why Arsenal are buying Ramsdale for £30m

Joe Williams
Aaron Ramsdale Arsenal

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal identified Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale as the “ideal option” to provide competition for Bernd Leno.

It has been widely reported that an initial fee of £24m has been agreed between the two clubs with that figure rising to £30m with potential add-ons.

Ramsdale was left out of the Blades’ 4-0 defeat to West Brom at the Hawthorns on Wednesday night with his replacement, Michael Verrips making a couple of costly mistakes.

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There has been a lot of negativity around the potential signing from the Arsenal fanbase with unease at the price tag for a goalkeeper who is set to act as back-up for Leno.

On Ramsdale’s imminent arrival, Arteta said on Friday morning: “It’s what we want, it’s always been the case a this club, we will have two different profiles and two different stages in their career. Aaron [Ramsdale] is a talented young keeper with huge experience and has international experience for England.

“He will bring competition and that’s what we want to create – healthy competition, quality competition in every position. We identified Aaron as the ideal option.”

On recovering from their opening day defeat to Brentford, Arteta added: “After a defeat the best way to put things away is to win football matches – when you win you create a different energy and environment. Our focus is to get the best possible performance and then the result will be a consequence to that.

“I think I have had bigger challenges since being here in the last 18 months. There’s a lot of things that have happened.”

When asked if Ramsdale would be available to face Chelsea at the weekend, Arteta continued: “We will see. there is still some paperwork getting done. He has done his medical but there are still things to resolve so we will have to wait.”

The return of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on a permanent deal was confirmed on Friday morning and on the deal Arteta said: “A lot of things he brought last season. He made us better. We needed more options, alternatives, creativity and players who can be mortals in this football club.

“He’s a young man but he has a lot of experience with huge clubs already. He has a unique talent and I’m delighted that the club has made an effort and now we have Martin in a permanent deal here.”

 

Arsenal Aaron Ramsdale

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