Aaron Ramsdale has admitted his England future is under threat following tough competition on who becomes Arsenal’s No 1.
The 25-year-old signed a new contract last season but has found himself on the bench after summer signing David Raya broke into the side and has started just once – a Carabao Cup win at Brentford – since mid-September.
Ramsdale feels it is strange how much attention is being paid to the battle to be Arsenal No 1, as he was again relegated to the bench in yesterday’s North London derby.
Ramsdale picked up his fourth senior England cap in the 3-1 friendly win away to Scotland last month but was an unused substitute in the recent victories over Australia and Italy.
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“There’s a lot of attention and it’s a position which is famously said; ‘if you’re not spoken about means you’ve done a good job’, and there’s a lot of talk at the minute.
“Whether it is me or David who plays we need to be able to just focus and play but at the same time, it’s a strange, big headline… we have to deal with it and that is what we are doing.”
On the other hand Raya’s performance came under scrutiny even as Arsenal defeated Manchester City as Mikel Arteta’s decision to bring him in ahead of Ramsdale remains a hot topic.
Arteta’s desire for Arsenal’s keeper to defend higher helps explain the change from Ramsdale to Raya.
