David Seaman has said Aaron Ramsdale is too good to be a backup, ahead of the England international’s likely start away to Brentford.
Arsenal’s trio of goalkeepers have all been away with their countries over the international break, with David Raya linking up with Spain, Karl Hein with Estonia, and Aaron Ramsdale with England.
But despite being the only one of the three not to feature on the pitch, Ramsdale is nailed on to start against Brentford on Saturday.
Raya is ineligible for the match, given he’s still only on loan from Brentford for the season.
Ramsdale is ahead of Hein in the pecking order, so he’ll take the Spaniard’s place, as he did for the League Cup game at the same venue earlier this season.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman has been speaking about the Gunners’ goalkeeping situation this week, suggesting it’s not a positive one for Ramsdale.
“If Aaron goes in at the weekend, then he’s left out for the next game, then we know who Mikel’s number one is,” Seaman said.
“It’s not good for Aaron. He’s a top-class goalkeeper, there’s no doubt about that.
“If he’s not playing [for Arsenal], it’s going to affect his [England] chances.
“I think January will be a bit too soon [for a move away].
“Aaron’s too good to be a number two, that is for sure.”
Ramsdale kept a clean sheet in his League Cup appearance away to Brentford, and another at the weekend would certainly do his chances of further minutes no harm.
But the goalkeeper has only made one appearance in all competitions since that day in September, and it was on the losing side of a 3-1 result away to West Ham.
The 25-year-old will be keen to prove he can slot back into the side and ensure he doesn’t stay as Arsenal’s number-two goalkeeper for long.