How good can Aaron Ramsdale become?

After a stunning start to his Arsenal career, just how good can Aaron Ramsdale become?

By Oli Dickson Jefford

Many Arsenal fans were surprised and underwhelmed when Aaron Ramsdale joined from Sheffield United this summer.

There was a sense that Bernd Leno would not remain first choice keeper in the long term but few would have picked Ramsdale as his replacement.

Ramsdale was still fairly inexperienced and coming off a torrid season with the Blades where, despite performing admirably, he featured in a side stuck at the bottom of the league.

Just a few months on, fans and pundits alike are singing his praises after a string of impressive performances.

The 23-year-old has looked cool, calm and collected in between the sticks and has consigned Leno to the bench

In just a handful of months he has become an imposing figure, but just how good can he become?

Age on his side

Traditionally, keepers often don’t hit their prime until they are in their early to mid 30s, with some competing into their late 30s and early 40s.

Peter Shilton was England’s top-choice keeper until he was nearly 41, whilst the likes of Dino Zoff and Gianluigi Buffon are other examples of keepers who played well into their 40s.

There are definitely some exceptions and keepers may be younger now, but there is certainly time for Ramsdale to grow.

Aged just 23, he’ll certainly not be at his best yet and there could be another four or five years before he hits his prime.

In Arsenal’s not too distant history, David Seaman and Jens Lehmann held the No.1 spot down for lengthy periods of time well into the latter years of their career and still performed well.

It is impossible to know how long Ramsdale will remain at the Emirates, but he could well follow in famous footsteps and become a dominant No.1 at Arsenal for several years.

Mentally tough and showing leadership

Some younger players, particularly keepers, often haven’t developed a mental toughness that is often required within football.

Despite having various things against him in the early stages of his career, Ramsdale already seems to have this quality within him.

It would have been easy for him to still show naivety and rawness after playing at a club that struggled so badly last season, yet he seems unbothered and has bounced back superbly.

And though a mistake will likely come at some point – it is something that no keeper escapes from – you would back him to immediately bounce back if or when something happens.

It’s also noticeable that he already has a real presence and relationship with the defenders in front of him.

The leadership he shows adds to his mental strength and shows he is capable of taking charge, something that will serve him well and allow him to flourish.

Trophies and England spot on the horizon?

Arsenal are far from league title contenders just yet, but Ramsdale could feature in the side’s potential resurgence.

If he stays at the club for a long time, he will not only continue to improve but he could also pick up several trophies and go on to have an illustrious career.

He could also make a mark internationally, with Gareth Southgate surely having noticed his impressive form so far this campaign.

It’s hard to tell exactly how good Ramsdale could get, but the future does look incredibly bright.

Photo Credit: Getty Images