Aaron Ramsdale’s Costly Mistake on Arsenal Return against Brentford
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had a nightmare return to the side after making a costly error in Saturday’s game against Brentford. Ramsdale, who hadn’t played a Premier League match since April, was hardly troubled during the game until a crucial moment in the first half.
The terms of David Raya’s loan move from Brentford prevented him from playing against his parent club. This meant that Ramsdale had the opportunity to start for Arsenal and prove himself. And for the majority of the game, he looked comfortable and in control.
In fact, Ramsdale nearly created the opening goal for his team with a superb long throw that set Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard away on goal. However, Trossard was caught by the Brentford defense and failed to capitalize on the chance.
Arsenal eventually took the lead in the 19th minute when Ben White’s cross was headed home by Declan Rice. The Gunners failed to build on their advantage but looked poised to go into halftime with the lead intact. However, Ramsdale’s mistake changed everything.
Dallying on the ball, Ramsdale allowed Brentford’s Yoane Wissa to charge down his clearance and score a bizarre equalizer. Former player Jamie Redknapp sympathized with Ramsdale, acknowledging that he hesitated and misjudged Wissa’s speed.
“He just hesitates,” Redknapp said. “He’d given one away earlier on. The ball comes back to him and he just shuffles his feet. I think he sees the next pass, his touch is actually really good but then he just hesitates and he misjudges how quickly Wissa is going to come onto him.”
Redknapp further expressed his empathy for Ramsdale, noting that as a player, it is incredibly difficult to recover from such a mistake. He explained that while Ramsdale’s teammates were offering support, it was the last thing he needed in that moment.
“It’s a horror moment,” Redknapp added. “He had three options he could have gone long to Saka, to Ben White, the easy pass would have been to give it to Saliba but hesitated and fair play to Wissa who made a good decision to press him. Right now, that inner voice in his head will be saying so many things. He will be feeling like a washing machine, he’ll be in a spin. I feel sorry for him.”
Despite the error, Ramsdale did partially redeem himself with two excellent saves in the second half, helping to keep the scores level. And the relief for Ramsdale and his teammates was palpable when Kai Havertz headed in a late winner, securing Arsenal’s victory and sending them to the top of the table.
Overall, Ramsdale’s mistake will undoubtedly be a learning experience for the young goalkeeper. While it may have cost Arsenal a goal, his ability to recover and contribute positively in the second half shows resilience and determination. With continued support from his teammates and coaching staff, Ramsdale has the potential to bounce back stronger than ever.