‘He will absolutely down tools’: Pundit says one Arsenal player could be about to completely give up

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Aaron Ramsdale must be hoping to get a game for Arsenal against Aston Villa this weekend.

David Raya was poor against Luton in the week, and with Mikel Arteta talking such a big game about rotating his goalkeepers, Ramsdale will be hoping to get a shot.

However, as we have seen all season long, Arteta isn’t actually minded to swap his goalkeepers, and the likelihood is that Raya will retain his place despite his performance against Luton.

Speaking on ESPN, Steve Nicol has been discussing this situation regarding the goalkeepers, and he reckons that Ramsdale might completely down tools at Arsenal if he doesn’t start against Aston Villa.

Ramsdale could down tools

Nicol shared his verdict on the goalkeeper.

“What I would do, which I don’t believe Arteta is going to do is to sit Raya on his backside. It’s one thing being stubborn, but it’s another thing to make a problem you have worse. If he hasn’t lost Ramsdale already, if he doesn’t play Ramsdale in this game, there’s no question, Ramsdale is out the door. He will absolutely down tools.” Nicol said.

As a professional footballer we understand that sometimes you don’t start, but you have to have some sort of belief that if the guy in your position is not doing it you get an opportunity, that’s what keeps you turning up and giving everything for yourself and the team. But if you think you’re not getting a shot, you’re downing tools, you’re absolutely downing tools.”

Wouldn’t blame him

Of course, as a professional your expectation is to give your best at all times, but we really wouldn’t blame Ramsdale if he decided enough was enough after this weekend.

Arteta promised that he would rotate his goalkeepers if necessary this season, and after Raya’s disasterclass against Luton, now is the perfect time to reinstate Ramsdale.

However, that probably isn’t going to happen, and Ramsdale’s long-term role would appear to be as a number two.

With the January transfer window just around the corner, we wouldn’t blame Ramsdale if he started kicking up a fuss at Arsenal in order to try to force a move next month.