Aaron Ramsdale's private chat with Mikel Arteta speaks volumes after leaving Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale has opened up about his conversation with Mikel Arteta after leaving Arsenal. The goalkeeper bid farewell to the Gunners and joined Southampton on transfer deadline day after losing the number one spot to David Raya.

Ramsdale, 26, had been ever-present in Arsenal’s 2022/23 title bid and started the club’s first five games last season. Once Raya had made his debut for the Gunners, though, Arteta stuck by the Spain international and Ramsdale was largely forced to watch the rest of the campaign from the substitutes bench.

Having spent a season on the sidelines, the England ‘keeper was determined to be first-choice once again and accepted a move to newly-promoted Southampton, making his debut the next day. While his focus has shifted from battling for the Premier League title to fighting against relegation with the Saints, Ramsdale has insisted he holds no ill-will towards Arteta - and revealed what the Arsenal boss told him after leaving the club.

“Yeah, I only spoke to him last week,” Ramsdale told talkSPORT. “What he did for me in my time at Arsenal, I can only thank him for and he thanked me for my contribution as well, as a football club getting back into the Champions League, pushing for a trophy.

“Ultimately, as managers do, they have to make decisions that will upset people and he made that decision but we still speak. I’m looking forward to getting some games under my belt here and we have them in a few weeks’ time, which will be a nice return.”

Ramsdale’s admission not only shows that he holds no grudges about his final season at the Emirates Stadium but also that Arteta was full of appreciation for his two-year stint as Arsenal’s number one, despite choosing to freshen up his options. He proved to be an upgrade on his predecessor Bernd Leno and was a key part of an improving Gunners side that almost ended the club’s title drought in 2023.

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Ramsdale is already accustomed to the relegation fight he will face this season, having previously played for struggling Sheffield United and Bournemouth sides. At international level, the ex-Gunner is dealing with a similar problem to his Arsenal woes, with Jordan Pickford clearly being England number one, but the new Southampton goalkeeper has a fresh opportunity to state his case.

“I’ve been around football long enough to know that the manager’s decision is the manager’s decision,” Ramsdale said. “I tried my best to change [Arteta’s] mind and force my way back in. Obviously, his mind was set.

“At the same time, David had a great season. You can have all the upset or qualms about getting taken out but when someone else is delivering, you’ve just got to take it on the chin.

“It was tough but now I’ve found a new home and I’m looking forward to playing again. That’s what happens, you just move on, no bad blood, and you’ve just got to restart your career again how you see fit.”