In a recent report, Sky Sports mentioned that Arsenal are set to make a third attempt to recruit Sheffield United keeper Aaron Ramsdale this summer. It has been revealed that the Gunners are planning to pay £18m plus addons, which could see the deal rise to about £25m, to bring the talented shot-stopper to the Emirates Stadium in this off-season (via Sky Sports).
Ramsdale’s Tough Campaign At Bramall Lane
Ramsdale had a long and grueling season with the Blades last season which ended in bitter disappointment as they were relegated to the EFL Championship. Still, the Chesterton-born talent managed to catch the eye by producing some solid displays as Sheffield’s primary keeper.
The 23-year-old made 42 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit in the previous campaign, conceding 68 goals and securing six clean sheets across all fronts. Ramsdale deserves credit for averaging 0.9 clearances and 7.4 long balls per game in the Premier League. However, he needs to work on improving his accuracy when distributing the ball from the back based on his pass success rate of 43.4% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Ramsdale proved his worth as a solid keeper despite his team’s struggles in the English top-flight. Hence, the player could jump at a chance to seal a move to Arsenal and play in the Premier League once again next season.
Will Ramsdale Be A Good Option For The Gunners?
Ramsdale has decent reflexes and can pull off a few solid saves at the back when his teammates need him to step up the most. He is a good handler of the ball and can even come out of lines to make a clearance when required.
The English keeper can get a lot of distance with his goal-kicks but needs to work on improving his passing accuracy if he wants to succeed at a club like Arsenal. He is also quite inexperienced at the highest level which makes him a risky choice for the Gunners to pursue this summer.
However, if Mikel Arteta is looking for a solid number two goalkeeper, Ramsdale fits the bill perfectly as he is good enough to feature and do well for the North London giants in the domestic cup competitions over the next few years.
At 23, the Blades star still has a lot of time to develop into a top performer at the highest level. Joining Arsenal this summer will help him do so as he could excel under an intelligent manager like Arteta and has what it takes to compete for a regular starting spot at the Emirates Stadium in the coming seasons.
