From Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – There was a lot confusion round Arsenal’s dogged and decided pursuit of Aaron Ramsdale in the summertime of 2021.
He had been relegated in back-to-back seasons with Bournemouth and Sheffield United, transport 125 targets within the course of. Positive, his distribution was respectable, however did that actually warrant a big-money transfer to one in every of English soccer’s main golf equipment?
Ramsdale received off to a flyer in north London, coming into the facet simply as Arsenal launched into their first profitable run of the 2021/22 season. Followers appreciated his confidence and charisma, whereas he appeared to be uttering in an age the place character and aura grew to become necessary attributes.
There have been nonetheless query marks over his shot-stopping, although. Every time Arsenal suffered a destructive consequence, you have been at all times left questioning if Ramsdale might have completed extra on his half, whether or not he had sidestepped a technique too early, if he had reacted a decisive fraction too slowly.
What was a power of Ramsdale’s was additionally being perceived as a weak spot. Was his over-exuberant fashion whipping himself into an excessive amount of of a frenzy? Had been his defenders postpone even a bit by his chaos?
These have been all related even halfway by way of Arsenal’s present title cost. However now it looks like Ramsdale has lastly reversed this trajectory.
The Gunners ran out 2-0 winners at north London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, securing their first ever win at Spurs’ billion-pound stadium. After a quick first-half, Arsenal needed to dig in deep after the break to carry off a fightback from the hosts.
Everybody performed their half, however few extra so than Ramsdale, lastly delivering a highlight-reel efficiency that wasn’t simply him celebrating and kissing the badge. Even then, he received right into a scuffle with Richarlison and was kicked by a Spurs fan post-match – obscenities now, however the sort that may endear him to the Arsenal devoted.
In case you have been areas wherein Mikel Arteta might enhance his facet, a goalkeeper would have been close to the highest of positional wants (even when that was by no means going to occur). Ramsdale is now threatening to make such a thought outdated and extinct.
Arsenal at the moment are eight factors clear atop the Premier League standings, the title theirs to lose, a area of challengers with much more apparent weaknesses and chinks of their armour. Their goalkeeper stepping as much as develop into one of many division’s elite stoppers could be a welcome bonus.