Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showered praise on Aaron Ramsdale for his “extraordinary” performance in the Gunners’ EFL Cup third-round victory against London rivals Brentford.
Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the EFL Cup, surpassing last year’s early exit, as a Reiss Nelson goal secured a 1-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium. The goal was orchestrated by academy graduates Eddie Nketiah and Nelson, with the latter finding the net just eight minutes into the match.
Although Arsenal spent much of the second half on the defensive, Ramsdale, making his first start since the international break, delivered a series of crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet. In his typical fashion, he also responded to taunts from Brentford fans about losing his starting spot to David Raya.
Arteta, during his post-game press conference, addressed questions about Ramsdale’s performance and the circumstances surrounding his signing in 2021, emphasizing his role in bringing the England international to the club despite initial skepticism from some quarters.
“I don’t think I’m the one to question Aaron Ramsdale’s quality because I was the one who brought him in when everyone doubted that decision,” said the Spaniard, speaking to reporters.
“Every player is crucial; we have many injuries as well, and many players have made significant contributions. In football, it’s about the present, and today he had the chance to play and performed exceptionally well.
“We certainly appreciate him more now. We see him every day, we know him, we understand his character, and we are delighted to have him.”
In addition to Ramsdale’s pivotal saves, Arsenal also relied on the defensive efforts of Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, who have been fringe players in the 2023-24 season so far.
Kiwior, who played both as a left-back and center-back during the match, made a crucial block on a goal-bound Keane Lewis-Potter strike in the 84th minute. Arteta acknowledged the contributions of these infrequent players when discussing Ramsdale’s performance.
“He’s been exceptional within the group, considering the circumstances, and like everyone, Jakub played really well, as did Tomiyasu, and Jorginho, who responded well after the events of three days ago and put in a strong performance,” Arteta added.
“Reiss, who hasn’t had many starts, scored the goal alongside Emile [Smith Rowe], and it was a significant day for Charles [Sagoe Jr]. Having an academy player with us is fantastic. There are many positives to take, but as always, many areas to improve as well.”
Wednesday’s match marked Emile Smith Rowe’s first start for Arsenal since the 2021-22 season. While the playmaker appeared to be struggling towards the end of the match, Arteta reassured fans that it was not a serious injury concern.
“He did pick up a knock, but it wasn’t the reason for his substitution. We needed to manage his playing time. He has had a significant increase in workload over the past two weeks, and he was struggling to complete the game, similar to Reiss,” added the Gunners’ coach.
Arsenal is set to face London rivals West Ham United in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, with the match scheduled to be played away from home. The Gunners will now shift their focus to a Premier League clash against Bournemouth on Saturday.
