Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman believes Aaron Ramsdale must leave Arsenal for the sake of his career, amid reports The Gunners are looking to sell him.
Seaman said: “It’s tough because if he stays then he might not get a lot of game time like last season.
“If he goes somewhere on loan or whether he signs for somebody then it’s going to be better for his England career but then it’s going to be worse for Arsenal.”
Ramsdale was benched last season following Arsenal signing David Raya on loan from Brentford. Ramsdale started the first four games of the season and the only other two Premier League starts he made were against Brentford when Raya was ineligible to play.
The Englishman started all 38 league games during the 2022/23 season and many fans were therefore surprised when Arsenal signed Raya. Mikel Arteta thought that Raya would be better suited to Arsenal’s system and playing out from the back.
Raya did pick up the Golden Glove award last season and got progressively better as the season went on, vindicating Arteta’s decision.
Seaman, who spent 13 years at Arsenal after a big money move from QPR in 1990, had to win over supporters who were unhappy at him replacing familiar favourite John Lukic.
He is relieved, however, he did not have to face the battle to play faced by fellow Yorkshireman and friend Ramsdale.
He added: “I was lucky. When I went to Peterborough as a 19-year-old, I was a NO.1 and then I was a NO.1 through my career. So it’s hard for me to try to understand what he’s going through, but it must be tough.
“He needs to be playing. You can’t train all season and not play. I couldn’t have done that.”
Ramsdale on the other hand looked shaky in whichever games he did start and was directly at fault for a number of goals. Arsenal are looking for £20-30 million for the 26 year old, although there are not currently many clubs looking to sign him.
The problem for Arsenal is that Ramsdale is currently earning £120,000 a week and there is a real chance he will stay at the club next season, just sitting on the bench.
Seaman, speaking to coinpoker.com, also addressed the fact that Arsenal need to sign a striker. “Everybody’s looking at the striker position. We need backup for Bukayo (Saka) as well because we saw at the end of last season when Martinelli went over onto the right, they’re not the same because they like to cut in.
“Going out on the wide on the right and wide on the left doesn’t quite work as well as what it can do. Everybody’s thinking we need a goal scorer; we need a different option. I think we need more of a physical option.”
