Aaron Ramsdale releases honest message after Arsenal transfer worry confirmed
Aaron Ramsdale has launched a rallying cry after the former Arsenal goalkeeper was on the wrong side of a 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
The England shot-stopper endured a difficult night as Russell Martin's Southampton continued their winless run in the Premier League. The newly-promoted side have had a difficult start in their return to the English top-flight picking up just one win in their opening six - leaving them second from bottom ahead of Wolves on goal-difference.
It was long first-half on Monday for the 26-year-old as the Cherries raced into a three-goal first-half lead. Summer signing, Evanilson, opened his Premier League account before Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo were on target in just seven minutes. Taylor Harwood-Bellis reduced the arrears, before the hour-mark, but they couldn't stage a late comeback.
Ramsdale left Arsenal last month in a deal worth an initial £18million. As part of the deal, the Gunners included add-ons in the deal with the Saints that could see the total fee reach £25million.
He is in line to face his former club on Saturday when the Saints visit the Emirates Stadium looking to dent the title aspirations of Mikel Arteta's side. Meanwhile, the North London club will be hoping to inflict further misery on the south coast club with the view of heading into the October international break firmly in the title-race.
Taking to Instagram following the defeat, Ramsdale admitted that not enough fight was shown but issued a rallying cry that hard work can turn things around. He posted: "We didn’t show enough fight and character in the first half which is disappointing after the support you have given us!
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"Only way out is by working! Thank you to both sets of fans for the reception it means so much to myself."
football.london understands that Arsenal will receive a further £1million if Southampton avoid relegation as part of the terms of the add-ons that were agreed. However, the Saints have picked up just one point from their six Premier League matches so far this season and have only scored three goals in total.
Following the defeat, the Saints boss was critical of the performance at the Vitality Stadium. Martin said: "They make 20 fouls to our 10 or whatever it is - I think that sums up the whole game.
"We were soft. Whatever personnel you have on the pitch, whatever way you play, if you lack the fight and aggression and spirit and togetherness and courage that we lacked in the first half, you're going to have a big, big problem.
"I didn't recognise our team. I didn't like a lot of what I saw, and I was hurt by the lack of spirit and fight. Normally I'm proud of them for the courage they show, but there was no aggression, no courage, no intensity to play."