Aaron Ramsdale was deeply moved by the warm reception he received from Arsenal fans during his return to the Emirates Stadium with Southampton. After transferring for £25 million at the end of the summer window, Ramsdale was uncertain about the kind of welcome he would encounter.
As he warmed up before the match on Saturday afternoon, the fans erupted in cheers, prompting an emotional response from the former goalkeeper. During the final minutes of added time, chants of his name echoed around the stadium, and many supporters stayed to give him a standing ovation after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory.
Ramsdale made 89 appearances for Arsenal before deciding to leave in search of regular first-team football, having lost his spot to David Raya. While he could have chosen to remain and sit on the bench, he prioritized playing time, joining a struggling Premier League side.
“I wanted to play football, not just sit on the bench,” Ramsdale said in a pre-match interview. “I’m lucky to have found myself at Southampton.”
He had a solid first half against Arsenal, making key saves, including a low shot from Thomas Partey. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Arsenal went into halftime at 0-0. The game turned in the second half, with Bukayo Saka assisting Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, before scoring himself.
Ramsdale left Arsenal on good terms, expressing gratitude to Mikel Arteta for the opportunities he had. “I can only thank him for my time at Arsenal, and he thanked me for my contributions when I left,” Ramsdale shared.
