Izuchukwu Okosi
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has revealed he wants to become an Arsenal legend after a successful first 18 months at the club since his move from Sheffield United.
Question marks were raised when the Gunners spent £24million for Ramsdale, who had previously been relegated from the Premier League in back-to-back campaigns with the Blades and Bournemouth.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe 24-year-old has however proved his doubters wrong, having cemented the no.1 jersey his own and even forced Bernd Leno to leave the Gunners in search of regular first-team football.
Ramsdale has kept the joint-most clean sheets in the Premier League this season (12) alongside Newcastle stopper Nick Pope and is currently in the form of his career as Arsenal bids for their first title since 2004.
The England international, who was named the Goalkeeper of the Year at the London Football Awards on Monday evening, has opened up on his time at the Gunners so far, as well as setting a new personal target to reach.
“It was a difficult period moving club to club, even before that going on loan,” he told BBC London. “I never imagined leaving Bournemouth or Sheffield United after a year but this is a place I can see myself at for 10, 12, 15 years.
“That’s the aim, that’s the goal: to stay at the top for that amount of time. Hopefully, I’ll never have to leave and I’ll become a hero and legend at this football club.
“From the first phone call from the first day [Mikel Arteta] said be yourself, that I don’t need to shy away from speaking up. So the first day I came in I knew a couple of boys and I was able to come joke straight away and people could see my character. That definitely allowed me to express myself on the pitch from the first game.”
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Meanwhile, it was a night to remember for Arsenal at the LFA’s as Bukayo Saka scooped the Men’s Young Player of the Year, Martin Odegaard won the Men’s Player of the Year, while boss Mikel Arteta lifted the Manager of the Year prize.
Arsenal cleaned up at the 2023 London Football Awards at the Roundhouse on Monday night.
Martin Odegaard was named Premier League Player of the Year, Mikel Arteta won Manager of the Year and Bukayo Saka took home Young Player of the Year. Aaron Ramsdale was named Goalkeeper of the Year.
Arsenal captain Odegaard won the main award ahead of Saka, Tottenham striker Harry Kane, Brentford forward Ivan Toney and Fulham frontman Aleksandar Mitrovic.
“I just want to share this with the whole team”, said Odegaard.
“It’s great to see the club being recognised with all the awards. I think it shows how far we’ve come as a club and what we’re doing this year is very special.”
Elsewhere, West Ham legend Mark Noble was given the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to London Football award.
Chelsea star Sam Kerr won Women’s Player of the Year and her teammate Lauren James won Women’s Young Player of the Year.
“Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, everyone. Everyone in this room knows you don’t win an award without a million people helping you,” said the Blues forward.
The Lionesses were also recognised for their Euro 2022 triumph, with Arsenal duo Leah Williamson and Beth Mead receiving the Power of Football Award.
“We’ll continue to do what we’re doing and maybe add another one in the summer!” roared Williamson ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
