Jamie Redknapp has admitted his mistake to criticise Arsenal over the signing of Aaron Ramsdale after impressive displays from the keeper.
As Arsenal were closing in on Aaron Ramsdale back in the summer, the club and manager Mikel Arteta got plenty of stick from fans and pundits alike. Nobody envisaged the keeper to improve the Gunners after suffering back-to-back relegation from the Premier League with Bournemouth and Sheffield United.
Moreover, those criticisms turned nasty when the signing was confirmed for £24 million, as many thought Arsenal had wasted their resources on a keeper not deemed good enough for the club. Pundits such as Danny Murphy questioned this decision, while some were on hand to tear into their transfer policy on the whole.
However, since signing for the Gunners, Ramsdale’s performances have ensured those critics track back and eat their words. The former Sheffield United star is yet to lose a game with the north Londoners, keeping five clean sheets in his eight starts so far.
It has become clear that Ramsdale has massively improved Arsenal. The keeper has received plenty of praises, especially from his manager Mikel Arteta in recent weeks. With the stopper and a strong backline involving new signings Nuno Tavares, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, the Gunners have become a force to be reckoned with.
For comparison, Arsenal were bottom of the league after three matchdays. Since their latest victory over Watford, they sit comfortably in fifth place, two points below title favourites and fourth-placed Liverpool. They are six points off leaders Chelsea and three away from second-placed Manchester City, making them genuine contenders at least for the top four if not for the title,
One of those who criticised the Ramsdale signing was Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who has now admitted his mistake. Speaking to Sky, Redknapp’s comments appeared on HITC, wherein he acknowledged his error of judgement over the keeper and the criticism made against the 23-year-old and Arsenal.
Redknapp said, “He has surprised me. I have got to be honest. I got it so wrong with him. I thought it was a very strange signing. He has been a revelation because he has given him that confidence at the back.”
The Arsenal star, along with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have been called up to the England senior squad for the current international round of games.
However, once Premier League action resumes again, Arsenal and Ramsdale have a tough test on their hands with a trip to Anfield. A performance against Liverpool will place the player and the club in a strong position heading into the next phase of their campaign, solidifying their top-four ambitions.
