Aaron Ramsdale suffers shocker on Arsenal return after blunder for Brentford goal

He has had few opportunities to play for Arsenal this season and it showed as Aaron Ramsdale had a moment to forget in the Gunners' crucial clash against Brentford

Posted Sunday, March 10, 2024 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale dithered on the ball to gift Brentford a crucial equaliser.

The England international was given a rare Premier League start as the on-loan David Raya was ineligible to play against his parent club. Mikel Arteta's side dominated the first half of the contest and took the lead through a precise flicked header from £104million man Declan Rice.

However, with seconds remaining of the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, Yoane Wissa charged down the hesitant Ramsdale and blocked the former Sheffield United goalkeeper's pass, diverting it into the back of the net. While Ramsdale went on to make two huge saves before Kai Havertz headed a late winner, his mistake could have been disastrous, particularly on the eve of Liverpool's potential title showdown against Manchester City.

Ramsdale looked crestfallen as he trudged back into his goal to pick the ball out of the net. As Thomas Frank's side wheeled away in celebration, the Arsenal players flocked around him in support.

Ramsdale was almost caught out by Brentford again in the second half. Ivan Toney saw him off his line and tried a spectacular half-volley-lob from 45-yards, but the sot-stopper sensed the danger time and got his finger tips to it.

Ramsdale fully made amends for his error by making a crucial, flying stop to deny a point-blank header from Danny Collins. It proved to be pivotal as Havertz popped up in the second half to head home a crucial winner. However, Arsenal fans and Fantasy Premier League players, who had loaded their teams with Gunners' defenders, were still furious.

One Arsenal fan wrote: "Ramsdale was due to play one game in 2024 and he [almost] cost us the title." One Gunners' fan went against the grain and blamed Arteta for the error, saying: "Ramsdale is not match fit or sharp. Blame Arteta for over benching him".

A third wrote: "Ramsdale puts another nail in the GW28 coffin" before a second fantasy football fan tweeted: "FPL ruined. Cheers Ramsdale".

It was the latest difficult moment in a season which has been nothing short of disastrous for Ramsdale. Ever since the Gunners signed Raya on loan from the Bees, he has played second fiddle to the Spanish goalkeeper.

Ramsdale kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 away victory in the reverse fixture, but got away with many similar errors, Arteta refused to praise him when asked about his performance, avoiding a direct question on him by bluntly saying: “I think the team was exceptional today".

On this occasion, Arteta made a point of embracing the shot-stopper on the pitch in front of the cameras. Ramsdale looked mightily relieved when the final whistle was blown and the points were secured.

The result saw Arsenal end the evening at the top of the table, where they will remain for the rest of the weekend If Liverpool draw with Manchester City at Anfield.