‘Made me really certain’: Arteta was convinced to sign 23-year-old for Arsenal after private chat with him

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta heaped praise on Aaron Ramsdale after the Englishman kept a clean sheet against Wolves last night.

The Gunners were really good in the first half and deservedly went in with a 1-0 lead at the break. They started the second-half well too, but a red card to Gabriel Martinelli changed things.

Arsenal had to play the final 20 minutes and stoppage time with 10 men and Wolves piled on the pressure. It looked unlikely that the Gunners would maintain their lead, but heroic defending and a few world-class saves from Ramsdale helped them get their first win of 2022.

Arteta was a delighted man after the game and he heaped praise on Ramsdale.

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Mikel Arteta: How Ramsdale convinced me to sign him for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta was urged by almost everybody to not sign Ramsdale last summer. The Englishman had been relegated in each of the last two seasons and people were baffled why Arsenal were prepared to spend big on him.

However, Arteta ignored everybody and did what he thought was right. That has proved to be an incredible decision and he has now revealed how he was convinced that Ramsdale was the right man.

He told BBC Sport yesterday: “That (Ramsdale’s character and personality) was one of the things that impressed me the most when I spoke to him (privately before signing him).

“That’s what made me really certain and assertive about the decision that we were about to take.”

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Almost every person who was against Ramsdale’s signing will now put their hands up and admit they were wrong.

The Englishman, 23, has changed Arsenal’s fortunes this season. He has been absolutely incredible for the Gunners and more than his skill and quality as a goalkeeper, it’s his passion and leadership at the back that has made Arteta’s side a tough team to beat.

Ramsdale is proving to be an absolutely incredible signing and Arsenal fans should maybe just trust Arteta, Edu and co when it comes to transfers going forward.

With the World Cup coming up at the end of this year and Jordan Pickford not doing great at Everton, Ramsdale has a huge chance to become England’s number one and he totally deserves it based on what he has done this season.

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