David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale still boast a healthy relationship(Image: Getty Images)

Aaron Ramsdale received classy private message from David Raya after leaving Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale parted ways with Arsenal this summer in a £25million transfer to Southampton, and he has opened up on a thoughtful text message he received from David Raya after leaving

05 Oct 2024, 10:05 by Aaron Morris · football.london

Aaron Ramsdale has opened up on a message he received from David Raya after leaving Arsenal this summer.

The ex-Sheffield United and Bournemouth goalkeeper joined the Gunners back in 2021 and quickly became a key player under Mikel Arteta, making 89 appearances and securing 32 clean sheets which contributed to the club's impressive second-place finish during the 2022/23 season.

However when Raya joined Arsenal on loan from Brentford last season, Ramsdale saw himself shut out of the starting XI. And when the deal was made permanent this summer, the Englishman decided to make the move to Southampton at the end of August in a £25million deal to give him regular first team football.

Despite potentially feeling side-lined by the Spaniards ascendancy at Arsenal, Ramsdale's words suggest no ill will, as he told BBC Match of the Day: "He was actually the first person to text me on my move here from the boys at Arsenal." Elsewhere in the the interview, Ramsdale also shared his aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal icon David Seaman, who had a 13-year tenure with the Gunners.

He said: "I did an interview with David Seaman about my new contract, and I wanted to emulate him and be there for eight, ten years. And a couple of months later, I was out of the team. I tried my hardest to dislodge David [Raya] out of the team," reports the Mirror.

Additionally, the 26-year-old acknowledged that Raya's addition might have been beneficial for Arsenal's future prospects, especially given the goalkeeper's impressive start to the 2024/25 season. He continued: "He has made some big, big saves this season and kept them in some games, and just desperate he doesn't have one of them games on Saturday."

As Ramsdale prepares to return to familiar territory, Southampton are set to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this Saturday. Before the weekend's matches, Arsenal were third in the Premier League, boasting four victories and two draws, including their recent triumph over Leicester City last week.

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