Aaron Ramsdale howler almost hands Brentford an early lead as the Arsenal stopper gets his feet all wrong 13 minutes into a rare start for the Gunners with on-loan David Raya ineligible

Aaron Ramsdale almost gave away the opening goal in calamitous circumstances on his return to the Arsenal line-up against Brentford. 

The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United stopper was back between the sticks for the Gunners with Mikel Arteta unable to call upon David Raya, who would be playing against his parent club. 

Ramsdale had thrived in the No 1 shirt for Arsenal since his arrival two seasons ago, but despite a strong run of performances since signing – including emerging as perhaps the heir to Jordan Pickford for England – he has fallen out of favour. 

Saturday’s London derby came as something of a chance for the keeper to put himself forward as the new No 1 with Arteta preferring for his stoppers to compete with one another. 

However, he won’t have foreseen the start to the game that he endured, almost throwing away his clean sheet when Yoane Wissa pressed him inside the box with just 13 minutes on the clock. 

Ramsdale was pressed by Yoane Wissa who pinched the ball off his toes in front of his goal

Bryan Mbeumo spurned the golden opportunity, sparing the England goalkeeper’s blushes

Ramsdale looked to play the ball out from the back but dawdled in possession, allowing Wissa to close him down and snatch it off his toes. 

Wissa took a few touches but after not finding away round Ramsdale laid it off for Bryan Mbeumo, whose shot was blocked off the line by Declan Rice.

‘He was the headlines before the game, but nerves seem to kick in,’ said TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand during the game. ‘The home fans were singing Raya’s name which would definitely unnerved him. He has to thank Declan Rice there.’ 

He also attempted to throw the ball out and start a counter-attack in the 35th minute, only to throw it directly into the ground and straight to a Brentford player’s path in an uncharacteristically error-strewn first half.

The home fans could be heard singing ‘you’re just a s*** David Raya’ and ‘England’s No 4’ at the keeper during the latter stages of the first 45 minutes.  

Ramsdale is ordinarily a capable passer of the ball but has lost his place to David Raya

There had been plenty of discussion around Arteta’s goalkeepers heading into the game, with many pointing to the potential pressure Ramsdale might find himself under in his first start for the side since losing his place to Raya. 

‘I think no matter what he does today, he’s the number two goalkepeer at Arsenal, no matter what the manager says publicly,’ said Ferdinand.

‘He’s proved himself at this level, I didn’t think his position would be under threat at all, but his manager obviously saw something in the way a different keeper can bring something different to the team, and Raya’s that guy. He’s the number one goalkeeper. 

‘I think you’ve got to say who’s the number one, and who’s the number two goalkeeper, and I don’t think the manager’s done that. That leaves everyone in limbo.’

Raya was ineligible for the game as he is on loan at the Emirates from London rivals Brentford

Only David De Gea (17) kept more clean sheets than Ramsdale (14) in the Premier League last term, and his time in goal for Arsenal had been largely incident free. 

He is also highly capable with the ball at his feet, however the argument often used to justify Raya’s inclusion is that the Spaniard’s footwork is superior. 

Ramsdale has been largely out of action in the first team aside from the Carabao Cup, but with Arsenal knocked out by West Ham already, the FA Cup may be his best route to regular minutes. 

England boss Gareth Southgate has already suggested that his place in the squad for Germany next summer could be in peril should he fail to get back into the first team.