Mikel Arteta is facing up to the prospect of being without his first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale for “a few weeks” due to a hip injury.
A surprise signing from Sheffield United last summer, Ramsdale has enjoyed a spectacular debut campaign at the Emirates, keeping 12 clean sheets in 24 Premier League matches – a total only bettered by Brazilian pair Ederson and Alisson (both 16).
Such form has led to Ramsdale being touted as a potential starter for England at the World Cup in Qatar later this year and he had originally been included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for matches against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast later this month.
“He has an injury in his oblique muscle and he will be out for a few weeks,” confirmed Arteta before Arsenal’s game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
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Speaking on BT Sport, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown backed Bernd Leno to cover effectively for Arsenal’s No 1. “It is a loss. It’s not just the back four – people used to talk about our back four and David Seaman was quite magnificent – so you link that together.
“He’s a real character but I do feel as though he [Bernd Leno] has the pedigree to come in today. We’ve seen him play in the League Cup and the FA Cup and he’s performed much better and he has a point to prove.
“He was the No 1 goalkeeper and a lot of money was spent to replace him so he should have the character to deal with this today.”
Ramsdale wasn’t the only absentee from Arsenal’s teamsheet at Villa Park as the in-form Gabriel Martinelli also missed out due to illness.
“He’s been sick for the last few days so he’s out of the squad unfortunately.”
Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Arteta offered Ramsdale his support after he made a rare mistake during the midweek defeat against Liverpool by allowing Diogo Jota’s shot to beat him at his near post.
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“If you want to be at the top for 10, 15 or 20 years you have to be prepared for that. It’s about how you react in those moments.
“He wants to be there the next day, he wants to go and practice. He wants to see it. He’s very critical of himself so sometimes he needs to have some help to put things into perspective, and for him to realise as well how much he has contributed to the team.”
Ramsdale’s popularity amongst Arsenal’s supporters was on full display at Villa Park as the away fans chanted “you’re just a s__t Aaron Ramsdale” to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, who joined Villa from the Gunners in 2020.
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