I don’t want trophies if I’m on the bench – Ramsdale
Southampton and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has said he left Arsenal because he did not “want to win trophies if I was sitting on the bench”.
He joined Southampton from title-challengers Arsenal this summer in a £25m move on a four-year contract.
Last season David Raya replaced 26-year-old Ramsdale as the Gunners’ number one.
The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United keeper made just six Premier League appearances that season, but has started Southampton’s past four top-flight matches.
“If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me,” Ramsdale told BBC One’s Football Focus when asked about his move.
“I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench.
“Getting out and playing was my aim so I’m lucky I found myself here at Southampton.”
Southampton, in 19th, travel to third-placed Arsenal in their next match on Saturday, 5 October (15:00 BST).
‘Martin’s not going to change’
Southampton have picked up just one point from six league matches this season, at home against fellow newly-promoted club Ipswich Town.
Last time out, a 3-1 defeat at rivals Bournemouth, Saints had almost 60% possession but only created three on-target chances.
Ramsdale, though, believes manager Russell Martin will not be too concerned with his side’s start.
“Martin is top,” he added. “His enthusiasm, the way he wants to play, the way he wants to do things – he’s going to stick by it.
“He’s not going to change because other people say he needs to.”
Southampton boss Russell Martin has secured a significant confidence boost ahead of preparing to hold discussions with owner Dragan Solak over future plans at St Mary’s as he has retained the full backing of his squad despite a difficult start to the Premier League campaign, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.
Saints were not afraid to splash the cash in the aftermath of returning to the top flight at the first time of asking via the Championship play-offs, with close to £100million spent on reinforcements during the summer transfer window, but they have struggled to secure positive results.
Although a convincing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth earlier this week resulted in Martin coming under increasing pressure, with members of the hierarchy split over whether they need to wield the axe in order to enjoy an upturn in fortunes, he is on course to be in the dugout for the trip to Arsenal on Saturday.
