Arsenal star Martin Odegaard has insisted Aaron Ramsdale backed his team-mates during the Gunners’ 1-0 Premier League victory over Everton on Sunday rather than sulking after being dropped. Ramsdale has been Arsenal’s No 1 since joining from Sheffield United in 2021 but was named on the bench against the Toffees, with Brentford loanee David Raya lining up between the sticks instead.
“I think he will just keep working hard, like he is always doing,” Odegaard said as he spoke about Ramsdale after the match. “He was there supporting us, cheering for us, helping us. He is a great character and he showed a very good response today by backing his team-mates, being there and giving us energy. Excellent from him.
“We have two good goalkeepers there and it’s big competition. Different qualities, two top goalkeepers and both so good on the ball and in the goal as well. We are lucky to have two such good goalkeepers and we will see who will play but both of them are excellent.”
Arsenal went toe-to-toe with Manchester City last season in an attempt to win their first Premier League title since 2004 but ultimately came up short as they finished second in the table. The Gunners have started the season strongly once again and have picked up 13 points from their opening five matches after winning four of them.
And captain Odegaard has admitted even his place in the team isn’t even certain due to the competition in the squad. “Of course, the competition is huge – you see in training every day the quality we have so everyone has to be on their best every day in training,” he explained.
“That’s a good thing and will help us improve as a team as well. We have so many quality players, the players on the bench can come on and change the game if we need it. The competition for places is huge and I think that is a great thing for us and helps a lot.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has defended dropping Ramsdale and has even claimed it should be the norm to substitute goalkeepers during matches. “I am a really young manager and I have only been in the job for three and a half years and I have few regrets in what we have done,” the Spaniard said on Sunday.
“One of them is that on two occasions I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes in two games in this period to change the keeper in that moment and I didn’t do it.
“I didn’t have the courage to do it but I am able to take [off] a winger or a striker and put a central defender back and go to a back five to hold that result.
“And we drew those games and I was so unhappy and someone is going to do it and maybe it (the reaction) will be: ‘That is strange. Why?’ Why not? Tell me why not. You have all the qualities in another goalkeeper and you want to do something to change the momentum, do it.
“It is a regret that I have and my feeling is to get everyone engaged in the team. They have to play regardless of the competition. Do it. That is my message.”
