ARSENAL

BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO POP UP WITH GOALS FOR THAT!

Gooners were sceptical when Arsenal shelled out £30m for a goalkeeper relegated twice in successive seasons last summer, but it didn’t take Aaron Ramsdale long to become a hero in north London. The ever-entertaining youngster opens up on defying expectations, warring with Ben White… and super-agent Bukayo Saka

Words Mark White

You’ve had an outstanding season so far. What’s been your highlight?

All of it, to be honest! Getting into the team so early was special, and just to have put in performances that have helped contribute has been good – doing my job and allowing other players to win us the game. If I had to pick one game it would either be Leicester away or Tottenham at home. But everything about this season has been great. We’ve got young lads playing really well.

Was there a moment when you felt like, ‘I’ve arrived now’?

It’s definitely more of a gradual thing –I still don’t feel like I’ve arrived. With Bernd Leno pushing me every day, I know I can’t sit back and take it easy, because he’ll take the No.1 spot off me just as quickly as I took it off him. He’s been good with me – we fight for the same spot, but we have each other’s backs too. For me, it’s not about what happens months into the first season – I’d prefer to be judged four or five years down the line.

Did you expect to be first choice three weeks after you joined?

I thought it would be a process of four months, maybe a year, but I was ready. I felt settled straight away, knowing some of the lads, and the manager made it so easy for me by saying, “Just go and play your game.” Once I’d got in, it was so comfortable for me to do my stuff. The fans have been absolutely amazing with me, too. There was obviously a bit of unrest when I signed – people were talking about me being a second-choice goalkeeper, costing a lot of money and the relegations – but that just gave me added motivation to win them over.