Attention to detail helping Ramsdale become a ‘monster’ of a goalkeeper

06-Nov-2021 12:00:32 | The Guardian

Arsenal’s summer signing meets his mentor at Watford on Sunday, having quashed doubts over his £24m price tag

Perhaps the doubters should have listened to the Premier League’s most experienced first-choice goalkeeper. Three weeks after Arsenal had signed Aaron Ramsdale for an initial £24m that, whatever hindsight might suggest, made many eyes water they were offered an alternative viewpoint by Ben Foster. “The guy seriously impresses me every time he plays,” he said. “He’s got a little bit of that mentality where he doesn’t care. Nothing fazes him and nothing bothers him: he’s going to go on to be a serious monster in goal.”

Foster will hope Ramsdale has an increasingly rare off day when his Watford side visit the Emirates on Sunday but, whoever finishes on top, the mutual respect will be genuine. Ramsdale is a West Brom fan and, through his teens, was present to see Foster keep goal at the Hawthorns. He has spoken reverentially of the 38-year-old in the past and considered it a career milestone when, two years ago, the pair faced one another during his time at Bournemouth.