has revealed the role England team-mate Bukayo Saka played in his move to last summer.
The Gunners and, given his performances this season, that appears to be money well spent.
Ramsdale had flattered to deceive at Sheffield United and Bournemouth but looks right at home at Arsenal, quickly replacing and helping Mikel Arteta’s side challenge for the top-four.
Arteta was thought to have played a key role in helping to convince Ramsdale to join Arsenal but the shot-stopper only spoke to the Arsenal boss after a bid was accepted by Sheffield United.
Asked how Arteta sold him the move, Ramsdale told : ‘It wasn’t Mikel Arteta, to be honest – it was Bukayo!
‘I heard rumours that Arsenal were interested in me when I was at the camp before the Euros, and Bukayo had mentioned that he and the boss had been talking about me.
‘As the transfer window gathered pace, I went back to Sheffield United and there were bids getting rejected.
‘When one was accepted, I finally spoke to the manager and he told me, “We don’t see anyone as No.1 or No.2.”
‘He told me that it might take a year to win the main shirt. The manager’s great – you can speak to him about anything.’
Ramsdale’s impressive first season at Arsenal was interrupted by an injury prior to the international break that saw him .
The Gunners return to action on Monday night against Crystal Palace but Ramsdale looks set to be absent again, giving Leno another chance to impress.
‘Aaron is a doubt. He’s still feeling not great,’ Arteta said on Thursday afternoon. ‘He hasn’t trained yet so we don’t know what he will be able to do on Monday.’
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