The need to nurse a sore back is nothing new for Aaron Ramsdale.
As a teenager, after long days on the road with his father Nick, the goalkeeper would sleep in uncomfortable places: cheap hotels, or the family van. Pit stops en route to Leicester, Rotherham, anywhere that might offer him a second chance after he was released by Bolton aged 15.
A decade on, Ramsdale can sleep easier: these days, he is No 1 for the Premier League leaders.
Earlier this season, however, the goalkeeper’s outstanding display in the north London derby prompted one Tottenham fan to climb the advertising hoardings and kick Ramsdale from behind.
Fortunately, following Sunday’s draw at Anfield, Ramsdale’s back was struck only by slaps and pats.
The need to nurse a sore back is nothing new for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (above)
Following Sunday’s draw at Anfield, Ramsdale’s back was struck only by slaps and pats
Should Arsenal go on to secure the title, his string of saves will go down in Gunners folklore
Should Arsenal go on to secure their first title in almost two decades, his string of saves will go down in Gunners folklore.
It might not feel like it now — two points dropped was how Mikel Arteta described the 2-2 at Liverpool — but this draw, secured thanks to Ramsdale’s acrobatics and heroics, could prove pivotal.
He won the Premier League’s save of the month award for March and in the final 15 minutes at Anfield alone, the 24-year-old kept out Darwin Nunez when one-on-one, stretched brilliantly to claw away Mohamed Salah’s deflected shot.
And then, deep into injury time, he flung himself across his goalline to deny Ibrahima Konate from point-blank range. No wonder goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana was among the first to embrace Ramsdale at full-time.
No wonder the keeper’s jersey proved hot property when he headed towards the away end. Ramsdale handed it to a young boy. Not long ago, plenty of Arsenal supporters wondered whether the goalkeeper was fit to wear that shirt himself.
Abuse and threats followed Arsenal’s move, in the summer of 2021, to pay £24million for Ramsdale. Now ‘Rambo’ is among the most popular, pivotal members of Arteta’s squad. He epitomises the youthful energy of this side, he enjoys playful back-and-forth with rival supporters.
He is thriving under the manager’s quirky methods; on the pitch, both his hands and feet play their part. But building attacks from the back didn’t always come naturally to Ramsdale.
He was released by Bolton for…