Aaron Ramsdale rollercoaster at Arsenal giving Gareth Southgate food for thought
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has given England manager Gareth Southgate a fresh problem to solve. Ramsdale, who is 25, made a mistake that allowed Brentford to score an equaliser on Saturday.
However, he then made two amazing saves which helped Arsenal win the match and go top of the Premier League.
This situation highlights the tough decision Southgate has to make as he gets ready to announce his final team for the Euros this summer. He will reveal his squad on Thursday for this month's friendly matches against Brazil and Belgium.
The choices he makes about his goalkeepers, left back and midfield are particularly important. Everton's Jordan Pickford is currently the first-choice goalkeeper. But every good goalkeeper knows they need someone to challenge them and provide cover, reports the Mirror.
Ramsdale was a big hit in the World Cup squad in Qatar and his performances last season led some people to suggest he should take over from Pickford.
Ramsdale has been benched in favour of David Raya, and his lack of playtime has led to some rustiness. This was evident in his mistake against Brentford when Yoane Wissa caught him off guard due to a slow clearance.
Despite this, Ramsdale's character and quality shone through as he made two fantastic saves to keep Arsenal level, setting the stage for Kai Havertz to score the winning goal.
How Mikel Arteta reacted to Aaron Ramsdale howler in five Arsenal vs Brentford moments missed
William Saliba sent Aaron Ramsdale the perfect Arsenal message after heroics secure top spot
The big question is whether Southgate can weigh Ramsdale's rustiness against his quality and experience. Most likely, and the smart bet would be that Ramsdale will be included in Thursday's squad.
Southgate tends to
Read on football.london
