The father of Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has hit out at first-team manager Mikel Arteta over his handling of the goalkeeping situation and claimed that his son has "lost his smile" at the Emirates.
Ramsdale's signing from Sheffield United in 2021 was met with scepticism and criticism given his prior relegations with the Blades and Bournemouth, but he won over the North London crowd with a string of impressive performances.
The 25-year-old immediately demoted Bernd Leno down to second choice in the 2021-22 season before playing a pivotal role in Arsenal's title charge last term, keeping 14 clean sheets in the Premier League.
However, Ramsdale has been brutally axed from the starting lineup for Brentford loanee David Raya and has not started a Premier League game since September's beating of Manchester United, and he is also still waiting to make his Champions League debut.
Raya - who was brought into the first XI on account of his qualities on the ball - has seen his performances scrutinised since becoming the club's number one, but Arteta has kept faith with his compatriot amid calls for Ramsdale to be reinstated.
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England boss Gareth Southgate has warned Ramsdale that his spot at Euro 2024 could be under threat if his situation does not improve, and speaking to The Highbury Corner podcast, Nick Ramsdale admitted that he no longer sees his son with a smile on his face at London Colney.
"Aaron's lost that smile to when he was holding onto that ball at this moment in time," the goalkeeper's father said, as quoted by the Evening Standard.
"And it is difficult. It really is difficult to see him there and we all keep saying you need to keep smiling. David Raya is a great goalkeeper and it is not his fault. He's just come in as a goalkeeper. David Raya, Aaron says, he is a lovely guy and he works hard with him and Aaron's trying to help him as much as he can to settle in with the squad.
"It's possibly the way it's been done. Not knowing the reason why, and this is me because we don't know why. Again, Aaron is working as hard as he can. He's trying to do his best for the squad. He's upbeat and he'll do everything for Arsenal to try and win the league."
Towards the end of the 2022-23 season, Ramsdale extended his Arsenal contract until 2026 with the option of a further year, but his two most recent appearances have come in the EFL Cup, which the Gunners were knocked out of with a fourth-round defeat to West Ham United.
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The 25-year-old's father cannot understand the logic behind tying Ramsdale down to a new contract only to bring in a new first-choice shot-stopper, adding: "Why would you extend a goalkeeper or any player's contract and then two months later, or three months later [make a move on someone else?].
"Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off. Aaron's got to live with that and he is living with that even though he's not been told it. By anybody.
"You've got to give the guy a chance for God's sake. Even though the way it's been done, in my eyes, it's been wrong and we can talk about that but it's the decision.
"Really and truly we've got to get behind David Raya. He's part of the family now. Whether it's only until May or June of next year. It won't be, it'll be longer in my eyes, but that's by the by."
Chelsea and Bayern Munich are reportedly keeping a close eye on Ramsdale's situation in North London amid talk of a January move, but Arteta has warned the 25-year-old not to rush into any decision over his future.
Ramsdale has 31 clean sheets under his belt from 85 appearances in an Arsenal shirt and is currently with the England squad preparing for November's Euro 2024 qualifiers with Malta and North Macedonia.
