Aaron Ramsdale has warned his Arsenal team-mates to be extra careful when facing relegation battlers during the title run-in.
Arsenal are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and have high-profile clashes against Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester City during their final 10 games.
They also have to face sides at the other end of the table, such as Leeds at home on Saturday, and Ramsdale says Arsenal’s dramatic win against Bournemouth last month shows how dangerous teams fighting for survival can be.
The Gunners were trailing 2-0 and needed a 97th-minute goal from Reiss Nelson to claim all three points. “If anything, you have to be more careful that you don’t take it for granted,” said Ramsdale, when comparing facing teams in the top half to those at the bottom.
“You see what Bournemouth did, and I don’t even think we took that for granted. You can be bottom of the table or second and you can score goals against anyone or beat anyone in this league. We’ve seen that with big teams dropping points.
“So with these games, it’s more about your concentration and your preparation and then hopefully on the pitch you take care of the performance.”
Ramsdale knows what it is like to be fighting to stay up, having been relegated with Bournemouth and Sheffield United before joining Arsenal in 2021, and he believes sides at the bottom play with less pressure when facing a top team.
“There was more freedom when I was down at the bottom playing against the bigger teams,” said Ramsdale. “I wouldn’t say it was a ‘free hit’ but when you’re playing against someone who’s in and around you, it’s a big-pressure game.
“It’s normally a game which has got less quality in because teams are nervous and don’t want to make a mistake. But then they could come here to the Emirates and say: ‘We’re going to have a good go and see what happens’.
“Also they could get to 0-0 after 60 minutes and then just sit in and defend for your life. So the ‘free hit’ phrase is not one I like using.”
Leeds are 14th in the Premier League table, just two points above the relegation places. Their poor form led to Jesse Marsch losing his job in February, with former Watford boss Javi Gracia brought in to replace him.
“We’re expecting a tough game,” Ramsdale said. “Obviously they’ve had a change of manager, but I feel like the way they have approached most recent games is still very similar.
“They have the same sort of style, the way they want to dominate the team by out-running them, and then letting their quality show after.
“It will be another tough test, and hopefully it’s one we can come through like we have done at the Emirates more times than not this season.”
