Campbell names ‘breath of fresh air’ at Arsenal after Spurs win

Sol Campbell thinks Aaron Ramsdale has been a “breath of fresh air” since signing for Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

The former England under-21 international signed from Sheffield United for a fee of £24m which could rise to £30m depending on his performances.

His signing was met with a largely negative reaction from the Arsenal fanbase with supporters wondering why they had splashed out so much money on a back-up goalkeeper.

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Ramsdale’s record of back-to-back relegations with Bournemouth and the Blades didn’t help either – but the Gunners fans are now warming to him.

The 23-year-old  has started their last three Premier League matches with Arsenal winning all three and only conceding one goal.

His passion and attitude has been infectious and former Gunners defender Campbell was impressed with his performance in their 3-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

“I think it’s great to see, he’s engaged with all the players,” Campbell told talkSPORT.

“He made a really good save, tipped it onto the bar [from Lucas Moura’s shot], it could’ve been 3-2. The attitude is spot on as well, he’s talking, a bit of banter in there – I love that. I feel comfortable in that.

“I think it’ll bring the best out of players and you need that sometimes. In the difficult moments throughout the season, there’s going to be ups and downs and you need those characters around the pitch.

“It seems like he’s been there forever, it’s been a breath of fresh air him going in there.

“Maybe because he’s come from a different type of club, he’s a bit more vocal, he’s got that way about him. I think that’s what Arsenal needed – a little bit old school, in your face, big, tall, a big character. Arsenal is built on big characters.”

Ramsdale was annoyed at himself for not keeping out Son Heung-min’s late consolation goal for Spurs in the north London derby but hailed “one hell of a day” at the Emirates.

“I’d have loved to have kept a clean sheet, I’m a bit annoyed at myself for the goal,” Ramsdale said on Premier League Productions.

“If I keep my body weight forward I think I save it and it goes round the post.

“But this place was rocking today, the strikers were excellent, defenders were excellent, I’m buzzing off this. This is one hell of a day and hopefully every time we play them it’ll be like this.”