THE message for Aaron Ramsdale is a clear one: You have no excuses.
Arsenal’s forgotten man has not pulled on a pair of goalkeeper gloves in the Premier League since September 3 – a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates.
There has been a pair of Carabao Cup appearances in the meantime – a 1-0 win away at Brentford on September 27 and a 3-1 defeat to West Ham on November 1.
But with David Raya, the summer loan signing who has seized the No.1 jersey, cup tied for a Prem visit back at parent club Brentford, Ramsdale will make his Prem return.
The under fire 25-year-old is back in the deep end this weekend with little room for error.
Boss Mikel Arteta has been simultaneously ruthless and supportive towards Ramsdale ever since Raya’s ominous arrival.
The Spanish coach feels competition can only be a good thing and must be embraced, regardless of the tension it may be causing inside London Colney’s keeper’s union.
And when it is suggested his English shot-stopper should be cut some slack if he shows rustiness at the Gtech Community Stadium this evening, Arteta was predictably unmoved.
He said: “No, he played a few weeks ago. I don’t expect [rustiness], like I don’t with any other player.”
Matters have not been helped by Ramsdale’s father, Nick, deciding last week was the moment to criticise Arteta for the manner in which his son was dropped.
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Nick said on an interview with the Highbury Squad podcast: “Aaron lost that smile. We did not have a clue [Ramsdale would be dropped] and Aaron’s got to live with that even though he’s not been told it. By anybody.”
SunSport columnist Troy Deeney said: “The dad has made the situation ten times worse. He has put his lad under the microscope even further. Aaron now needs the perfect game.”
Asked specifically about Ramsdale’s father, Arteta deflected, explaining: “Any player who is playing less than he wanted, we demand and expect them to constantly challenge and make each other better and always have the purpose and ability to overcome the situation.
“Aaron has had that attitude every day since I have been here.
“My job is to try to help every single player in the best possible way every day to make them better. To give them the best possible chance to fulfil their potential in their career.
“There is no exception in any position or any player.”
Deeney also told SunSport that if he was Bees manager Thomas Frank, he would target Ramsdale from the first minute with set-pieces and deliveries into the box.
Arteta addressed this concern, adding: “It is [Brentford’s] way of playing. They attack with a lot of numbers in the box. They are a good side, extremely well coached and a big threat.
“Like everything, we will try to minimise their strengths and highlight their weaknesses.”
Elsewhere, there is good news for Arteta as he prepares to welcome back injured trio Ben White, Gabriel Jesus and skipper Martin Odegaard to face Brentford.
Odegaard has overcome a concussion picked up in training, while Jesus looks to have shaken off a hamstring injury after playing over 90 minutes for Brazil against Argentina in mid-week.
Right-back White missed Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Burnley just before the international break with a muscle injury but is in contention to start.
Arteta will celebrate his 200th match in charge of Arsenal – and already has a better winning record in his first double century than legendary ex-manager Arsene Wenger.
Frenchman Wenger won 112 games in his first 200, while Arteta could make it 116 with three points in West London.
Arteta said: “I am really proud to reach that number. In a big club it’s always difficult.
“That means that you do have to win a lot of games and hopefully there’s more positive things to come. Another 200? Or 300? I don’t know.”
