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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Aaron Ramsdale lauded for playmaker abilities as Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli highlights ‘unbelievable’ skills

Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli has heaped praise on Aaron Ramsdale’s ability to create scoring chances - despite being a goalkeeper.

The 23-year-old summer signing has been a revelation at Emirates Stadium this season both in between the posts and on the ball, where Martinelli has described his skills as “unbelievable”.

For the Brazilian, Ramsdale is one of a number of youthful key members in the Arsenal squad, alongside Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Ben White.

“We are a family,” Martinelli told The Athletic. “We do not just see it as we go to work and we play some football. It is more than that for us.

“We are all getting stronger together, on and off the pitch. We try and go for some meals together. In Dubai during the mid-season training camp, we did a whole staff and team barbecue together, which was really nice.

“All the players are unbelievable to me. I love Emile and Saka; how they play, they are so smart, they read the game so quickly. Honestly, I love playing with them.

“Ben and Aaron are really nice people and they try and speak to everyone. Ramsdale on the ball is unbelievable, he can put the ball wherever he wants. And Ben — he is so secure, he can dribble, he can play a long ball, he can do whatever he wants with the ball. Both of them are so good for us.

“We train [long through balls from Ramsdale] in the week. Aaron can do it and I run to give him options. It is like having another [outfield] player on the pitch if the goalkeeper can do that.”

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