Aaron Ramsdale is aspiring to become an esteemed figure and an icon at Arsenal as the talented goalkeeper aims to stay with the club for a span of 15 years.
The 24-year-old England international moved to Emirates Stadium from Sheffield United for £30 million ($36m) in the summer of 2021. He quickly set about making the No.1 spot in Mikel Arteta’s plans his own and has impressed enough in the current campaign – which has Arsenal challenging for the Premier League title – to be named Goalkeeper of the Year at the London Football Awards.
Ramsdale hopes there will be many more honors to come during his time in north London, with there a desire on his part to see out the remainder of his career with the Gunners.
Ramsdale wants to be an Arsenal legend
“It was a difficult period moving club to club, even before that going on loan,” he told BBC Sport London.
“I never imagined leaving Bournemouth after a year, I never imagined leaving Sheffield United after a year. But this is a place now where I can see myself for 10, 12, 15 years. That’s the aim, that’s the goal, that’s the aim to stay at the top for that amount of time. Hopefully, I’ll never have to leave and I’ll become a real hero and legend at this football club.”
The English goalkeeper has been able to earn the trust of Mikel Arteta and has had numerous opportunities under the Spanish coach. He added: “From the first phone call, from the first day he said be yourself, but you don’t need to be anybody who hides behind an image or to shy away from speaking up in changing rooms.
“The first day I came in, thankfully I knew a few of the boys from previous clubs or England, so I was able to come in and joke straight away and people can see my character. It definitely allowed me to express myself on the pitch from the first game.”
