Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has one major attribute that makes him England’s perfect number two goalkeeper.
He does not, for one second, believe he is England’s number two goalkeeper.
Ramsdale, like most in his position, was not at the back of the queue when confidence was being dished out.
After a performance in a goalless draw against Italy that was lifted above the ordinary by one sensational save from Sandro Tonali, Ramsdale now has two caps for the Three Lions, the first of which was in a 10-0 win in San Marino, when he could have spent his time between the sticks reading a good book.
But it is clear the Gunners keeper is already relishing a toe-to-battle with Everton's Jordan Pickford - and with Nick Pope - for the number one spot.
“By no means I am second choice,” Ramsdale said. “I am pushing me, I am pushing him (Pickford). If I can put performances in like that a little bit more when I get the chance, I think I will be pushing him all the way.”
There were a couple of important interventions from Ramsdale on Saturday night and, considering the defence in front of him was not always foot-perfect, a clean sheet was a feather in his cap. Apart from a couple of fine stops, Ramsdale also got his angles right most of the time but if there was one slight complaint, it would have been that he was not overly convincing with his distribution.
Yet although the evidence has been limited, it would seem Gareth Southgate does, after all, have competition for the goalkeeping jersey,. Ramsdale told talkSport: “The challenge is amazing and trying to put in performances like that whenever I play will only push Jordan. I was happy with a few saves and the clean sheet.”
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Ramsdale be England's first-choice goalkeeper? Let us know in the comments section
Having been first called up less than five years ago, Pickford has raced to 45 caps, even though his club form has not always been without issues. But Ramsdale insists the Everton keeper does not have it easy with England. Ramsdale said: “There are a lot of very good English goalkeepers not at this camp. And it’s a great challenge here - Jordan, myself and Nick (Pope) push each other every day.”
Having won a fight to become Arsenal’s number one, Ramsdale clearly backs himself in head-to-head battles. But it would surely still take a serious, prolonged dip from Pickford - who was in outstanding form for Everton in the second half of last season - for Ramsdale to become Southgate’s preferred choice for Qatar 2022. But so many of the elite nations have more than one world-class goalkeeper in their squads.
Brazil, for example, have Alisson and Ederson, while Germany’s Manuel Neuer is kept on his toes by Barcelona ’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen. It might be a stretch to put Pickford and Ramsdale in the same category as these duos but, nevertheless, it should be reassuring for Southgate that the Arsenal man is so bullish in his quest to be the first choice. And if Pope can get a move from Burnley and stay in the Premier League, he will continue to make up a trio of England options that are maybe under-rated. But one thing is for sure, thanks to Ramsdale, Pickford cannot rest easy.
