Mikel Arteta has pleaded Aaron Ramsdale’s case for a starting spot at the upcoming European Championships to England manager Gareth Southgate.
The Arsenal manager surprised everybody at the start of the season when he chose to drop the English shot-stopper for David Raya, who arrived on loan from Brentford in the summer.
Ramsdale was named in last season’s PFA Premier League Team of the Year which made the initial decision a difficult one to take for the Arsenal fanbase.
But after months of solid performances from Raya, the Spanish goalkeeper has won the majority of fans over with Ramsdale now likely to leave in the summer transfer window.
Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, this comes at a very bad time as his place in England’s squad for the upcoming European Championships is in jeopardy.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brentford, Arteta urged Southgate to take into account Ramsdale’s performances over the past two seasons.
“I would judge Aaron not for what he has done in one day but what he has done in the last two or three seasons and the consistency he has shown, the quality he has shown.” He said via the Daily Mail.
With Raya unable to play against his parent club on Saturday evening, it affords Ramsdale the opportunity to showcase himself once again for the Gunners and maybe for the last time.