Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale’s chance to end a tedious narrative

Aaron Ramsdale has come in to this Arsenal team and been one of the shining lights of an otherwise dismal campaign. Thrust into first team action sooner than anticipated, he’s formed part of a functioning defence that has passed over the mantle of concern.

Issues lie with those at the front of the orchestra, although primarily the conductor leading them, as Ramsdale has helped solidify a foundation with two composed central defenders and well balanced full-backs.

Being one of the better performers against Crystal Palace despite conceding two goals, there are no doubts over him retaining his place for the visit of Aston Villa on Friday. Everyone knows what will dominate the build-up for that meeting.

Mikel Arteta’s credit in the Arsenal fanbase’s bank is mere loose change, so he will be in the spotlight, and so too will the inevitable, tedious and draining narrative surrounding Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa on Friday is Aaron Ramsdale’s chance to end the tedious Emiliano Martinez narrative at Arsenal – even if he doesn’t care about it

Arsenal made a mistake.

While £20m was money they could not turn down in their circumstances and offers them mitigation, everyone will be acutely aware that holding on to Martinez, who is evidently a more suited goalkeeper to Arteta’s team than Bernd Leno, would have solved homegrown and build-up issues, as well as having to fork out an additional £10m as the difference to sign Ramsdale.

Few would swap now. Martinez is a better goalkeeper in the Premier League than the Englishman at present, something nobody can deny, but the 23-year-old is younger and has endeared himself to the supporters almost immediately. He clearly loves it here and we love having him.

Ramsdale, however, won’t shed one iota of thought towards this ‘Martinez mistake’ narrative. Rightly so. He is a consummate professional who couldn’t care tuppence about anything other than him and his performances. Who cares who is in the opposite goal? It’s full focus on him being the best he can be for this football club and keeping his spot in the team.

Yet from a selfish fans’ perspective it would be the cherry on a three-point cake if he can keep a clean sheet and put in a glorious shift.

Arsenal are riddled with flaws and repeatedly having to deal with Matteo Guendouzi fanatics blurting out his stats at Marseille and the repetitive rehashing of the Martinez narrative does little to aid the current ailments.

One less thing to worry about would be the Argentine not giving another interview where he name drops Arsenal and this endless saga banging on when it solves and achieves nothing. It is hundreds of thousands of gallons of water under a bridge that needs its own attention.

Is any of this especially important? It sure as heck won’t be to Ramsdale.

Winning the game without boring fans into submission with emotionally draining football is the priority. Second to that is winning the game while boring fans into submission. Some base level improvement is third and Martinez not being the excruciating talking point post-match is fourth. Maybe.

There is full belief in Ramsdale to be No. 1 for many years to come. That won’t change after Friday. What he could unknowingly change is this painful narrative that everyone is sick to the back teeth of. It’d be a most welcome sidenote to what is the definition of a must-win game.