Aaron Ramsdale is likely to start Arsenal’s FA Cup clash against Liverpool (Photo: Getty)
Paul Merson has urged Aaron Ramsdale to ‘fight for his place’ at Arsenal amid reports he’ll be staying at the Emirates till the end of the season.
The future of the England goalkeeper has been up in the air all season after Arsenal surprisingly signed David Raya on loan from Brentford.
The Spaniard has taken the No.1 spot, with Ramsdale making just one Premier League appearance since the start of September – though that was only because Raya was ineligible to play against his parent club.
As a result it has been speculated that the keeper could look to leave North London in pursuit of regular game time, but recent reports suggest Arsenal will not allow him to leave in January.
Mikel Arteta is likely to give the 25-year-old a chance in between the sticks on Sunday when the Gunners host Liverpool in the FA Cup third-round.
And Merson believes that all Ramsdale can do is keep working hard and try and displace Raya in the team, with the Arsenal legend telling Sky Sports: ‘Goalkeeper signed a contract, it’s the way it rolls. It’s horrible but that’s the way it is.
‘He signed a contract. They brought in another goalie, he’s number one at the moment. He’s got to fight for his place, it’s as simple as that.
David Raya has taken the No.1 spot off Ramsdale (Photo: Getty)
‘When you sign these contracts for 100,000, 150,000-a-week, you can’t just go, “Oh I’m not in the team. I’m leaving tomorrow morning, I wanna play somewhere else”.
‘It’s a horrible position for goalkeepers. It’s very, very unusual if you can get two top drawer goalkeepers, which Arsenal have got.
‘But where are you going to go? You’re not going to Liverpool, you’re not going to Manchester United. The only one I can see is Chelsea and I don’t see Arsenal selling to Chelsea.
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‘So for me, I think he’ll have to fight for his place. The only positive I would say at the moment is he’s only young and goalkeeper is the only position in that the older you get, probably the better you get.
‘With an outfield player, when you get to 30 you’re half done in this day and age, so there’s a positive there. But he signed his contract. He’ll have to swallow it.’
Ramsdale has conceded nine goals in as many appearances, keeping three clean sheets, this season, while Raya has hardly set the world alight with eight clean sheets and 19 goals conceded in 20 games.
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