AARON RAMSDALE has revealed how Mikel Arteta tasked him with “shaking up” the Arsenal changing room when he arrived from Sheffield United.
The England goalkeeper says phone calls from Arteta before he joined were “instrumental” in making the move to The Emirates and boosting his confidence.
Aaron Ramsdale has flourished since arriving at Arsenal last summerCredit: GettyAaron Ramsdale has revealed what Mikel Arteta told him after signingCredit: Reuters
Arteta knew he had a strong personality in Ramsdale, 23, from their first conversation.
The Gunners boss has grappled with problem players in the dressing room during his tenure and wanted the new goalkeeper to liven the squad up.
Ramsdale told That Peter Crouch Podcast: “The phonecalls [from Arteta] after the ball got rolling once the bid had been accepted were instrumental for me.
“It’s not only the phonecalls I had. As soon as I got there he told me to be myself and try and shake the changing room up and be confident.”
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Ramsdale has been a revelation in North London this season but had plenty of doubters when he joined, having been relegated from the Premier League with Bournemouth and Sheffield United in the two previous seasons.
Ramsdale said: “There were definitely people saying: ‘Hold on a minute’.
“I’d just been relegated for the second time and £24million is a lot of money, especially for what was reported as a No2. It was getting some criticism.
“I didn’t think when I signed that I’d be in straight away. The manager was upfront with me and said: ‘It might take you a year, it might take you six months but we don’t see you as a No2, it just depends on how the team is doing’.
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“I think thankfully for me we were in a tough moment at the start of the season and I got thrown in and I managed to just play with some of my confidence and stayed in the team.
“I think it always helps when, obviously, Bernd [Leno] is a top keeper and a professional, it’s so much easier to stay switched on.”
Ramsdale’s character has been clear for all to see in emotional moments on the pitch.
During Arsenal’s London derby victory over Chelsea last month, the goalkeeper celebrated Bukayo Saka’s penalty to make it 4-2 by waving at a Chelsea fan who had been giving him stick from behind the goal.
And the Gunners keeper says he enjoys some back and forth with opposition fans.
He added: “I find it quite funny how other players or fans can do what they want to goalies who stand there on their own for 90 minutes getting abused.
“I waved at a Chelsea fan the other week, he was giving me all sorts all second half. We scored a penalty so I waved at him.
“The security guard said: ‘Why did you do that? That wasn’t necessary’.
“I said: ‘You’ve listened to everything he has said, called me every name under the sun but I can’t simply wave?’ It is enjoyment for me.”
