Arsenal star Aaron Ramsdale has downplayed the likelihood that he goes to the World Cup with England as their number one.
The goalkeeper has struggled to convince Gareth Southgate that he is the ideal man to replace Jordan Pickford between the sticks, and has chosen to stick with the Everton man despite his struggles over the last 18 months.
The Blues have started the new campaign with a strong backline however, with the joint-best defensive record in the division at present, and Ramsdale is under no illusions that he is still in with a chance of breaking into the first-team for England in time for the World Cup in Qatar.
“I think the World Cup personally is six months too soon for me to really challenge,” Ramsdale admitted on the Yours, Mine, Away podcast.
“I’ve said this a few times, it’s not really for people to go: ‘Oh no, you should be number one’.
“I’m being realistic, I’ve played three times for England with a World Cup coming in six weeks. I’m not really going to play.
“But that’s not me throwing the towel in. I’m fighting to be that starting goalkeeper. But if I’m not, I’ll support whoever is the best that I can.”
As much as I’m sure every Arsenal fan believes that Aaron should be number one, Pickford’s heroics from the previous tournament still stand out, and Gareth Southgate has shown an increasing preference for his favourites, failing to stick with his previous statement about picking the players who are playing regularly and in form for their clubs.
Ramsdale is showing his maturity with his attitude to the situation however, and rightly or wrongly, Southgate doesn’t look likely to change his mind, but our guy will be there willing and ready if he is called upon.
Patrick
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That’s good for him to not have high expectations because it can ruin his enjoyment of being in the world cup when he doesn’t start
Pickford is Southgates choice ,and he deserves it .
Ramsdale for me was our POTS last year but it will always come down to certain managers and their preferences.
Any non Arsenal fan that as watched Pickford perform for his country will agree that he deserves to be number one .
I will add as an Arsenal fan Ramsdale is not far behind though .
If Ramsdale, or ANY OTHER ENGLAND PLAYER, were REALLY mature, they would refuse to play in this tainted competition. That’s my view but I look, as ever, at the far wider picture.
And yet you still support a football club that profits by £10m per season advertising Rwanda on their shirt sleeves. Same principle is it not?
Well, I will advice Aaron Ramsdale to pray fervently to the holy heavenly Father, the Omniscient Living God above in the highest of heavens for His divine intervention from Him to intervene in this matter of starting for England at the next football World Cup. Which has arisen between himself and the Three-Lions manager Gareth Southgate. So that he Southgate will be starting him in all the England matches at the Qarta World Cup. As prayers if correctly prayed to holy Almighty God above can move mountains if answered by Him.
Therefore, Aaron Ramsdale can fulfil his heart felt desire to be starting for England as her starting goal tender at the next World Cup in Qatar as the NO 1 England’s goalkeeper in all her matches in the tournament.
The Arsenal winger Saka, is looking already guaranteed an England call-up by Gareth Southgate for the Qarta 2022 World Cup. But his fellow Arsenal team mate Ben White, who was ignored by Southgate in his last England called up for the two last3 Lions’ Nations League matches. But could see his star shine brilliantly this time around for a England call-up for the Qarta World Cup by Southgate.
His England World Cup call-up may be as a result of the world cup ending injury sustained by Southgate’s preferred rightback for call-up Alexander Arnold. Which as a result has enhanced Ben White’s chance for an England World Cup call-up.
So in essence, us Arsenal and England football fans could see the trio Arsenal players of: Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and Bukayo Saka all get called up by the 3Lions boss, Gareth Southgate for the next World Cup that Qarta will host in November this year God’s willing,
Ramsdale is probably right that he’s not going to be the starting keeper. That may be the right decision, although a close one – he may be in the squad though.
Overall though, it seems to me that Southgate has fallen into the trap he pulled the England team out of when he took over – cronyism.
Southgate came in and cleared out all the dead wood, promising to reward form etc, but now that he has his own group of players he’s sticking with them through poor form (or even dire form). He’s showing that it’s not as easy to avoid that pitfall as it looks from the outside.
I don’t expect much from England at the WC although they’ll get through the group stage as they always do simply because the competition isn’t usually that tough at that stage.
Pope is ahead of Ramsdale no? That makes him third choice. Aaron is good for us but isn’t as good as Pope and Pickford. They have more experience. In time Aaron will be number one. He still has a lot of mistakes in him and a lot to learn. He’s still quality though