The hands and the agility of Aaron Ramsdale prevented some fantastic drama from turning into an Arsenal crisis at Liverpool.
Preserving a point with that magnificent late lunge to palm away Mo Salah’s deflected effort didn’t just rescue a point at Anfield. It maintained Ramsdale’s bid to join Reds’ keeper Alisson and Manchester City ’s Ederson as the only men to keep goal as their sides lifted the Premier League title since 2017.
It also maintained Arsenal’s bid to stave off City in the title race. And it confirmed the size of the conundrum facing Gareth Southgate.
Everton ’s Jordan Pickford has been England’s no.1 keeper in the eyes of the Three Lions’ coach thus far. But Ramsdale has made himself a key component of one of the best two teams in the country this season.
“I’m not a big fan of goalkeepers,” said the normally grumpy Roy Keane as Sky Sports’ panel analysed the 24-year-old’s save from Salah. “But this, with the deflection, if you see the deflection - brilliant.”
When you can soften the Irishman whose standards most Premier League players find it difficult to reach (many never do) you know you are doing something very, very right. Nick Pope has been similarly impressive for a Newcastle side forcing its way into the Champions League.
But Ramsdale is already taking his talents on tour in the elite European competition next season. And for Southgate, choosing an England keeper has suddenly become much more of a challenge than it used to be.
Pickford’s level hasn’t dropped. Far from it. Southgate remains intensely loyal to the 29-year-old who has always justified that faith in him.
But with the Three Lions falling short in their last three major tournaments, Ramsdale has made himself the red hot favourite to become the next cab off the rank in any kind of shake up. Signed by Arsenal for a £30million package during the summer of 2021, the former Sheffield United and AFC Wimbledon keeper soon replaced the more experienced Bernd Leno at the Emirates and even more rapidly showed why.
This season, Ramsdale’s organisation of the Gunners’ defence has made it the third best in the country and the platform for their title challenge. His speed of thought and positioning to worry Ibrahima Konate out of scoring what would have been the winner at Anfield last Sunday provided further evidence of his reliability.
His character and leadership off the pitch have been there for all to see all season. A month ago when, after Arsenal crushed Everton 4-0, Ramsdale waved away suggestions that the north Londoners could fold as they did last season with games and points in hand in the race for the top four.
"What's driving us on is the scars of last year. No one has forgotten about what happened,” he said. “It is just knowing our mistakes at the end of the season, the teams we dropped points against and knowing we have to trust our process, our basics. Its knowing that if we achieve nine out of 10, 10 out of 10, then we should get results.”
That approach is helping Ramsdale to the top of the England pecking order. It could yet keep him and his side top of the Premier League.
