In what are probably the last remnants of Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal career, what a sorry ending.
A finale that, except for David Raya’s injury, closes a turbulent season on a personal level, in which his battles on the pitch are as tenacious as those he has inside his own head.
Of course, it could have been much worse had Kai Havertz not come to the rescue with an 86th-minute header to beat Brentford on Saturday.
But the damage was done. When Gabriel’s pass slid across the ground towards Ramsdale in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, the goalkeeper’s right leg pulled back like a pistol for a while, Yoane Wissa quickly approached.
Wissa then committed a sliding challenge to deflect Ramsdale’s attempted kick into the net.
Aaron Ramsdale’s mistake against Brentford will be part of how he will be remembered at Arsenal
On his day, Ramsdale is exceptional and confident. His professionalism has stood the test of time. However, seeds of doubt were sown earlier this season.
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He was really poor. The Englishman should have cleared the ball seconds before his opponent could get close to him.
Arsenal’s substitutes and backroom staff turned to the 25-year-old at half-time and clapped him on the back in encouragement. He echoed the reception that is usually given to a child for participating, but without achieving the required goal.
The seeds of doubt within the goalkeeper were sown just weeks into this campaign. That night on September 17, when Raya replaced him in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Everton, is significant.
Not only because it was the beginning of the end for Ramsdale, as his number one spot was taken forever. But the way he handled himself. Mikel Arteta talked about how goalkeepers are interchangeable, suggesting they could be swapped between games or even within a game.
There have been opportunities for this. 5-0 at half-time against Sheffield United last week, 3-0 against Burnley after 47 minutes on February 17 and 4-0 at half-time against West Ham on February 11. exchange, if that theory were true.
Instead, Ramsdale has warmed the bench, appearing only in cup ties, in a Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven or when facing Brentford in the league due to Raya’s ineligibility to face his parent club .
Those winning performances in the Gunners’ title fight last season, such as in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April last year, where he made two sensational stoppage-time saves to keep his team in the fight Because of the title, they will remain in memory.
On its day, it is exceptional. A goalkeeper who exudes courage in the air and has great distribution on the counterattack.
Mikel Arteta has not exchanged between Ramsdale and David Raya as he promised months ago
Arteta has trusted Raya despite encouraging Gareth Southgate to consider Ramsdale for England
This was seen in the 16th minute, when he effectively sent Leandro Trossard into the goal with a monstrous shot after recovering the ball from a corner kick.
But unfortunately, it’s games like Saturday’s that Ramsdale will remember this season.
It can’t have been easy for him to get to this meeting. Mikel Arteta had this week called on Gareth Southgate to look beyond Arsenal’s exclusion of Ramsdale and consider him for England’s Euro squad this summer.
Lo and behold, Southgate was at the Emirates on Saturday. Some pressure.
In any case, what Ramsdale cannot be accused of is a lack of trying. His professionalism has stood the test of time and he has never publicly complained about losing his place despite his exploits with the north London club in the previous two campaigns.
More than one player would have made a big fuss. Not Ramsdale.
A telling sign of how much playing for the club means to him came before the Gunners’ Champions League match against Sevilla.
The Arsenal X/Twitter account announced on October 21 that his wife Georgina had given birth to their son.
Ramsdale has been the consummate professional and supported his replacement all season.
Three days later, Ramsdale was on a flight to Spain despite knowing he was unlikely to be needed.
If this is his last appearance in a Gunners shirt (he is expected to have plenty of suitors in the summer window), one can only hope that wherever he goes he regains that on-pitch confidence he once had, and quickly.