Aaron Ramsdale reveals private text message from David Raya after leaving Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale left Arsenal for Southampton in a £25million deal this summer, and he's revealed that he received a text from David Raya shortly after his departure from the north London side

Aaron Ramsdale has revealed that David Raya was one of the first people to text him after his summer transfer to Southampton.

The 26-year-old shot stopper made a name for himself with the likes of Sheffield United and Bournemouth before making the move to the Emirates Stadium in 2021. Initially a stalwart under Mikel Arteta, the Ramsdale made 89 appearances for the Gunners, keeping 32 clean sheets and helping the side achieve a second place finish in the 2022/23 campaign.

However, Raya's arrival from Brentford on loan during the 2023/24 campaign shut Ramsdale out of the starting XI with emphatic performances of his own. His move was made permanent in the summer, leaving his ex-team-mate with little option to make a move in a bid to play first-team football, doing so in a £25million switch to Southampton at the end of August.

While being replaced by an older and more experienced goalkeeper could have left a bitter taste in Ramsdale's mouth, he has admitted that he actually had a good relationship with the Spaniard at Arsenal. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, he revealed: "He was actually the first person to text me on my move here from the boys at Arsenal."

Ramsdale explained that he had hoped to enjoy a similar career to Arsenal legend David Seaman, who spent 13 years in north London. He added: "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."

Ramsdale also explained that Raya's arrival may have been the right thing for Arsenal going forward, citing how the goalkeeper has started the 2024/25 campaign incredibly well. He went on: "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."

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Ramsdale returns to his old stomping ground when Southampton travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal on Saturday. The Gunners sit at third place in the table at the time of writing, with four wins and two draws to their name, most recently besting Leicester City 4-2 a week ago.

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