West Ham vs Arsenal: 4 pre-match discussions

3. Aaron Ramsdale Needs to Find His Balance

After the terrific season he and the team have been having, were Aaron Ramsdale to cost his side dear points in this latter stage it would be a killer blow for him and the team to take. It would cut deep. There have been a few occasions this season where mistakes have gone unpunished, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t happened.

On the whole he has not found his level in 2022. The first months of the season were indescribably brilliant from him, both in shot-stopping, distribution and general command of his box.

Lately we’ve seen more looseness creep into his game, and he hasn’t been anywhere near as clean in his penalty area. Miles off turning into a bad keeper overnight – he’s still brilliant, and young – there has been a dip in his performances that he needs to balance out over these final five games.

Still saving Arsenal’s bacon as seen with two crucial saves against Manchester United, he has to iron out the creases and puff out his chest in a period of the season where everyone needs to be at their absolute best.

What he needs is one really solid game. One with no dramatic moments or wayward passes that require last-ditch defending from Gabriel. There are months and months of examples of him being able to do so, and he just needs to rekindle that authority he once showed. He’s hardly lacking in confidence, is he?

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