Aaron Ramsdale opens up on why he left Arsenal ahead of Emirates return with Southampton-BREAKING NEWS – Aaron Ramsdale finally reveals on what went wrong between Arteta and why he leftšŸ˜³

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has opened up about his decision to leave Arsenal permanently ahead of the teamā€™s Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium. Ramsdale, who played a crucial role in Arsenalā€™s second-place finish in the 2022-23 season, saw his playing time reduced last season, making just six league appearances and keeping two clean sheets. With limited opportunities, he opted for a Ā£25 million move to Southampton, where he has started four Premier League matches, helping secure a draw but conceding ten goals.

 

In an interview on BBC Oneā€™s *Football Focus*, Ramsdale explained his desire for more game time as the primary reason for his departure. ā€œIf I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldnā€™t have meant that much to me. I just wanted to play footballā€¦ Getting out and playing was my aim, so Iā€™m lucky I found myself here at Southampton,ā€ Ramsdale said. He also praised Southampton manager Russell Martin, commending his dedication and passion.

 

Meanwhile, Arsenal has bolstered its goalkeeping options by making David Rayaā€™s loan deal permanent for Ā£27 million. Ahead of the upcoming match, football pundit Alan Shearer predicted an Arsenal victory, noting Southamptonā€™s recent struggles, including a poor showing against Bournemouth. Arsenal is currently third in the Premier League with 14 points, while Southampton sits 19th with only one point from six matches. Despite Arsenalā€™s strong form, they have historically found it challenging against Southampton, winning just four of their last 11 encounters.