Mikel Arteta has shared details of his post-match conversation with Aaron Ramsdale, revealing that he wished the former Arsenal goalkeeper “all the best.”
Ramsdale made his first return to the Emirates Stadium since his summer move to Southampton and received an emotional welcome from the Arsenal fans, which brought him to tears. The goalkeeper, who made 89 appearances for the Gunners, also had a warm exchange with Arteta after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory, with the manager stopping to speak with him after the final whistle.
In his post-match comments, Arteta said: “I wished him all the best and congratulated him on the way they played. I hope the best for him, and especially for Southampton and their manager, because they are a very good side.”
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Before the match, Ramsdale spoke about his departure from Arsenal, explaining that a lack of playing time in his final season, due to David Raya’s arrival, led to his decision to leave. Ramsdale made just six Premier League appearances in the 2023/24 season.
He admitted: “There aren’t many people who dream of winning the Premier League while sitting on the bench. As much as it would be amazing, I want to play. If I finish my career with 10 years in the Premier League and 400 or 500 games, rather than sitting on the bench and winning trophies without playing, I’d prefer the first option.
“It was hard to leave Arsenal, but all I ever wanted to do was play, and now I’m grateful to be doing that at Southampton.”