Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has hailed the influence of three new Gunners' players as Mikel Arteta's men gear up for the season's final furlong while sitting top of the league.
The Gunners are eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City, but have also played one game more than Pep Guardiola's side. Arsenal will be desperate to keep City at arm's length as they aim to end their 19-year wait for a league title this term, but know a trip to the Etihad awaits next month.
Plenty can change between now and the end of the season, but Arsenal have certainly made significant strides and look a world away from the team that capitulated at the back end of last term.
Ramsdale has confessed he is hopeful and identified three of his team-mates that could be the required additions that help Arsenal get over the line in May.
"The additions of [Gabriel] Jesus and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko are a massive help. They’ve been there and done it," Ramsdale told Standard Sport.
"Jorginho now has come in and he’s been there and done it, [winning] every trophy other than the Premier League and the World Cup. So I think everyone has got a story, which has added more to it from last year and added more strings to their bow. At the minute it’s all working superbly well and we’re reaping the rewards."
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The 24-year-old went on to explain how the scars of that capitulation that meant Arsenal missed out on Champions League football last season are helping to motivate them this time around.
"We are a young team we had a really tough one last year missing out on the top four and to Tottenham then it’s even more [tough], so we’re learning game by game," he added. "I think huge credit goes to the staff but also for our failure last year."
Ramsdale took many by surprise with his stellar performances last term but the England international has gone from strength to strength this season and currently leads the charge for the Golden Glove award with 12 cleen sheets to his name so far.
Of the three players that Ramsdale mentioned, Zinchenko has arguably been the most influential given Jorginho only arrived in January and Jesus has missed three months worth of football with injury.
However, with that being said all three have popped up with a vital contribution of their own and Ramsdale will be hoping for a few more before the season's out.
The young shot-stopper is currently away with England but is unlikely to feature given he deputises for first-choice Three Lions 'keeper Jordan Pickford.
