Back pain is nothing new for Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. As a teenager, he spent countless nights on the road with his father Nick, far from home.
Many times he slept in uncomfortable places – whether in cheap motels or simply in the family van parked on the way to Leicester, Rotterdam, or somewhere where he would get a second chance. At just 15 years old, Ramsdale was rejected by Bolton.
Only ten years later, the goalkeeper can now sleep more peacefully and comfortably because he is the number one choice for Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. The “Gunners” are one of the favorites to win the Premier League. They are 6 points ahead of Manchester City, who have played one game less.
After Ramsdale helped his team win an important victory in the North London derby against Tottenham, a 35-year-old “Spurs” fan climbed over the advertising boards and hit the goalkeeper who had gone behind the goal to get his water bottle.
Fortunately for Ramsdale, he has recently only been patted on the back by his teammates for his brilliant performances. He had a strong game at Anfield against Liverpool, despite Arsenal dropping two points in the 2-2 draw.
If the Londoners manage to win their first title in two decades, then Aaron Ramsdale will enter the folklore of the fans.
It was precisely against Liverpool that the 24-year-old goalkeeper played a key role with decisive saves at the end of the game.
Not many Arsenal fans were pleased in the summer of 2021 when Ramsdale was signed for £24 million. Now “Rams,” as he is called on the islands, is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s team and a carrier of infectious positivity and energy.
Ramsdale is showing his best under Arteta’s leadership. Not only his hands are playing a role, but also his feet. The goalkeeper is building attacks from deep positions – something that was not characteristic of him until recently.
At the age of 15, Ramsdale was released from Bolton because, in his own words, “he couldn’t kick the ball”. After joining Sheffield United, Ramsdale helped train younger goalkeepers and earned extra money. He then actively participated in passing training and played as an outfield player, developing the ability to use both feet when necessary.
Even now, his father shudders when Aaron has to pass the ball. Nick even joked about writing to Arteta to take action. Nevertheless, the distribution of the ball by Arsenal’s starting goalkeeper is of enormous importance to the team’s game.
Off the pitch, Ramsdale doesn’t do anything special. He loves Yorkshire tea, and at home with his fiancee, he rests from football with…more football. His partner Georgina is not the biggest fan of the sport. Nonetheless, the TV at home broadcasts football matches all day long. Georgina helped Ramsdale with his personal and professional development by improving his diet and sleep schedule.
All of this helps the goalkeeper to be extremely relaxed in the tense situation he faces as a professional footballer. Ramsdale constantly jokes with people from the sports technical staff. He is one of the reasons there are no disagreements in Arteta’s team. On his side is Arsenal’s second goalkeeper, Mat Turner. The two share the same sense of humor.
They “joked” around before the match between England and the US in the World Cup. English national Ramsdale likes to joke with his American colleague because of his American-type sense of humor.
Recently, Ramsdale told a funny story from the match between Arsenal and Manchester City for the FA Cup. City’s star Kevin De Bruyne was unhappy with the referee’s decisions, and Turner told him, “Calm down, dog, this is a dogfight.”
Aaron Ramsdale has gone through enough difficulties in his teenage years. However, positive thinking helps him reach the highest level in the English football pyramid. The main goal in the coming weeks is to be flawless under the goal frame and try to help his team triumph in the Premier League title race.
