Mikel Arteta believes Gareth Southgate should include Aaron Ramsdale in his England squad for this summer’s European Championships despite losing his place in the Arsenal team.
The 25-year-old has been usurped as the Gunners’ number one goalkeeper by David Raya but the on-loan Spaniard is ineligible to face parent club Brentford in Saturday’s Premier League clash.
That has presented Ramsdale with a rare chance to impress – and a first start in the league since November, when Raya also had to make way in the reverse fixture at Brentford.
Ramsdale has previously spoken about his fears of missing out on a place at Euro 2024 due to his lack of game time, though Arteta feels he has enough credit in the bank to be part of Southgate’s squad regardless.
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Speaking ahead of the match, Arteta said: ‘I don’t know how Gareth [Southgate] is thinking, but if I put that situation into my eyes and my perspective and how I make a decision, I would judge Aaron not for what he has done in one day but what he has done in the last two or three seasons and the consistency he has shown, the quality he has shown.
‘It would give me no reason to make another decision.’
He added: ‘A player has to be himself and one of the biggest qualities of Aaron is his character and his charisma, his enthusiasm, his energy.
Asked if his lack of minutes was a concern, Ramsdale himself said earlier this season: ‘Yeah, of course. It is the first time I have found myself in this situation. The [England] manager is brilliant, he trusts the players he’s worked with before.
‘Kalvin [Phillips] and Harry [Maguire] haven’t played the most amount of minutes, but when they step up for England and are given the opportunity, they perform.
‘So, if that’s the case for myself, and I do get shown that trust to play another game if I haven’t played for my club, then I will have to repay him.
‘But, of course, I want to get back into my club team and be able to give [Southgate] a headache, rather than just have Jordan as the No.1 and me fall by the wayside.’
At one point, Ramsdale was rivalling Jordan Pickford for the No.1 jersey with England but the Everton keeper now has the position sewn up, while Sam Johnstone has been performing well for Crystal Palace, Nick Pope could return to action before the end of the season and Jack Butland has been impressing for Rangers.
