‘I can’t’ - Worrying Aaron Ramsdale trait Newcastle United should be wary of that ‘sealed’ Arsenal fate

Arsenal supporters have often questioned whether Aaron Ramsdale’s worrying concentration admission sealed his North London fate.

Newcastle United are reportedly chasing the 26-year-old ahead of an expected summer rebuild. Goalkeeping has proven a problem area for Eddie Howe since Nick Pope’s shoulder injury in December.

Another England international, Ramsdale, will likely be on the move after being frozen out by the Gunners. Mikel Arteta made the bold decision to replace him with Brentford’s David Raya - a loan move expected to become permanent next month.

The move split Arsenal fans due to Ramsdale starring during last year’s title charge and being named in the Team of the Season. But a blunder in the season run-in proved costly, with the shot-stopper seemingly not paying attention as Southampton took a lead after just 28 seconds.

Arsenal ultimately drew the game 3-3 but, from that moment, the writing of another Manchester City title win appeared to be on the wall. A clip soon resurfaced from months earlier when, speaking to Gunners icon Ian Wright, Ramsdale admitted his concentration issues.

“If you ask me to focus on a game of football for 90 minutes, I'm finished,” he told Behind The Game. “I can't do it. So that's why I get involved with the fans and I sing along with the songs. If someone is abusing me, I'll turn around and give them a bit back. 

“I have had my two, three minutes of sort of madness in my head - straight back to the football. I've got 10, 15 minutes of pure concentration again. Next thing you know, half-time is around.”

Just months later, Arteta brutally binned Ramsdale and he has played just two Premier League - the ones David Raya was ineligible for - since. The Telegraph claim Newcastle remain interested and are weighing up a £15million approach.