MY ACCOUNT
David Seaman has urged Aaron Ramsdale forget about history and fire Arsenal to glory — as well as backing the goalkeeper to become first-choice for England.
The Gunners sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League and their exciting attacking players have drawn plenty of plaudits for firing Mikel Arteta’s side into pole position in the title race.
But Ramsdale has also shone, keeping 11 clean sheets as an ever-present in a campaign which could earn Arsenal a first Premier League trophy since 2004.
Seaman, 59, won three league titles during a trophy-laden 13-year stint with the Gunners and now works part-time as a goalkeeping coach under Arteta’s regime.
He said: “People forget he’s only 24. So that is amazing for me because I didn’t join Arsenal until I was 26 — what he’s doing now at 24 is just phenomenal.
“There’s a sign outside the dressing room, written on the wall saying, ‘This is our time’ and that’s exactly what it is. It is their time right now. Never mind what’s gone on before, they’ve got a chance of making it their time.
“The mentality is right at the club now — I think that’s why you see all that excitement, especially after the last-minute goal to beat Bournemouth on Saturday.
“Everybody went crazy because they know what it means. Because there are many that haven’t been there before they’re so excited about it, but it’s about keeping that calmness as well.”
Seaman collected 75 England caps having made his international debut in 1988 — but Ramsdale is having to be patient in his attempt to establish himself as Gareth Southgate’s No1.
Having made his bow in the 10-0 thrashing of San Marino in October 2021, Ramsdale has only been capped two more times — including a 4-0 defeat to Hungary in a Nations League clash at Molineux.
Seamann added: “Does he deserve more caps? Definitely. He only has three and he needs to build on that because he has to be able to feel comfortable playing at that level.
“Jordan Pickford has been brilliant in an England shirt, you can’t doubt that. I wouldn’t imagine Gareth is thinking about having another number one at the moment.
“I imagine that Aaron will be number one at some stage and sooner or later will get that opportunity.
“It’s different levels. When he was at Sheffield United and Bournemouth a lot of people said that was a negative because he’d been relegated twice and I was like, ‘No, this is playing under pressure, like massive pressure, the pressure of getting relegated’.
“He’s got a different pressure now but he is a massive character, especially in the dressing room and on the pitch, he’s still making these big saves and his concentration levels are immaculate.”
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