Aaaron Ramsdale explains why he left Arsenal for relegation fight with Southampton despite opportunity to win the Premier League with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners

After Ramsdale had been named in the PFA Team of the 2022-23 season as Arsenal’s No.1, Mikel Arteta’s decision to replace him with David Raya was questioned amid rumours of tension in the goalkeeping camp.

The England stopper could do little to dislodge Raya, who stamped his position as Arteta’s first choice between the sticks and has won over the Arsenal faithful. Rather than sitting on the bench for a second season, Ramsdale moved to relegation-favourites Southampton in what many saw as a step down – he is keen to stress that this is not the case.

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  WHAT RAMSDALE SAID

  Speaking ahead of his return to the Emirates, Ramsdale told Football Focus: “If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning the Premier League] wouldn’t have meant that much to me.

  “I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench. Getting out and playing was my aim so I’m lucky I found myself here at Southampton.”

• • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Ramsdale makes his first return to the Emirates since leaving the club on Saturday and will be determined to prove his former boss was wrong to drop him for Raya. The goalkeeper has not had the best start to life back on the south coast with the side second from bottom having collected one point from a possible 18. Meanwhile, Arsenal, still unbeaten in the league, should consider this game to be a straightforward victory but, with Ramsdale in goal and an almost fatal slip against Leicester last week, will leave the Gunners hesitant about already claiming certain victory.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR RAMSDALE?

    The goalkeeper will know the Arsenal frontline like few other goalkeepers in the division and will have to be at his best to stop the likes of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli from getting on the scoresheet once again. Ramsdale will be hopeful a good performance can also catch the eye of the new England manager Lee Carsley ahead of games against Greece and Finland.