The father of Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has hit out at first-team manager Mikel Arteta over his handling of the goalkeeping situation and claimed that his son has «lost his smile» at the Emirates.
Ramsdale's signing from Sheffield United in 2021 was met with scepticism and criticism given his prior relegations with the Blades and Bournemouth, but he won over the North London crowd with a string of impressive performances.
The 25-year-old immediately demoted Bernd Leno down to second choice in the 2021-22 season before playing a pivotal role in Arsenal's title charge last term, keeping 14 clean sheets in the Premier League.
However, Ramsdale has been brutally axed from the starting lineup for Brentford loanee David Raya and has not started a Premier League game since September's beating of Manchester United, and he is also still waiting to make his Champions League debut.
Raya — who was brought into the first XI on account of his qualities on the ball — has seen his performances scrutinised since becoming the club's number one, but Arteta has kept faith with his compatriot amid calls for Ramsdale to be reinstated.
England boss Gareth Southgate has warned Ramsdale that his spot at Euro 2024 could be under threat if his situation does not improve, and speaking to The Highbury Corner podcast, Nick Ramsdale admitted that he no longer sees his son with a smile on his face at London Colney.
«Aaron's lost that smile to when he was holding onto that ball at this moment in time,» the goalkeeper's father said, as quoted by the Evening Standard.
«And it is difficult. It really is difficult to see him there and we all keep saying you need to keep smiling. David Raya is a great goalkeeper and it is not his fault. He's just
Read on sportsmole.co.uk