Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Ramsdale hails Arteta’s man-management skills, outlines title ambitions

Aaron Ramsdale says Mikel Arteta’s man-management skills are playing a fundamental role in Arsenal’s form this season with the players driven by a desire to “give back” something to their manager. 

While the Spaniard looks combustible on the touchline and is often spiky when facing the media, Ramsdale says the 41-year-old is more than capable of being empathetic behind closed doors and has developed a deep understanding of what makes each of his players tick.

“He galvanises the squad a lot just by his demeanour and his attitude,” says the goalkeeper in the latest episode of Michael Calvin’s Football People podcast. 

“The will for him to want to do well and win comes out in us. His enthusiasm on the training pitch around the place and his empathy, as well, is possibly a massive thing for myself. 

“Everyone has different things going on outside of football and without putting himself in front of you too much, he will understand and knows about everything. He takes time to speak to you and finds out what’s going on. 

“There can be days where he could be demanding the utmost, which he does every day, but if you’re having a bad day he’ll know why, he’ll come and put his arm around you or see if you’re alright and then he’ll change it for different players. That’s why the people he brings in and are excelling under him have a real sense of wanting to give back to him.”

While Ramsdale hasn’t worked with Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, when it was put to him that Arteta is in the same mould, the keeper suggested his manager’s varied experience as a player may even set him apart. At Rangers and Everton, Arteta was brought up around “old school” attitudes while at Arsenal he saw the evolution in dressing room culture at first-hand.

“I can’t speak for the other two as I’ve not played for them but I’d say our manager is more so [a man manager] that than them two,” said Ramsdale. 

“He’s younger and he’s seen the transition when he was playing of how the game is going from inside the dressing room, so he understands that as well. 

“For the likes of myself, he knows that he can be a little bit old school and try and get onto me if I’m not performing or doing the right things in training and then for others, he’s softly spoken, gives them confidence and a kick up the backside in a different way. 

“He’s definitely a people’s person. He’s very easy to talk to, to knock on his door is very easy. There’s still the fear-factor there but again, because he’s seeing it from both sides – the old school when he first started playing in Scotland and then the Premier League’s transition into how it’s going now – he’s more of a specialist in that sense than most people I reckon.”

Arteta’s only experience of winning a league title during his playing days came at Ibrox 20 years ago. Arsenal haven’t tasted such success since 2004. With the Gunners currently flying high at the top of the Premier League, there’s a real opportunity for the club and manager to end their respective waits for more league glory. 

For Ramsdale, who has never experienced challenging for major honours, the experience is completely new. It’s the same for many in Arsenal’s young squad but the hunger is there to write their names in the history books.

“It’s what we want, there’s nothing getting talked about in the dressing room at the minute because we know what can happen and who is chasing us, but I’m sat here with you now and there’s a real chance that we can do this,” he said. 

“People know that inside the dressing room but it’s not like the lads are openly talking about it because things can happen. 

“We could go on and do really well and a team puts together a 17-game winning streak which could pip us at the end or things like that. There’s a real chance that we can do it and it’s what every person in the building from media to chefs, everyone is working towards it. 

“It’s not just the players and the coaching staff, it’s such a weird thing to think about, especially for me, as 18 months ago I was relegated. Now we’re sat here. 

“We’re in February, and usually you start thinking, we’ve only probably got 12 games to go normally and we’ve still got not 19 games, so no one is getting ahead of themselves but, I can sit here and say there’s a hell of a chance that we can do it.”

___

Aaron talks about a lot more in the full interview, including how he’s trusted to start Arsenal’s attacks, his attitude in one-on-one situations and the personality needed to become a top-level keeper. Goalkeeping coach David Preece and former Arsenal player Adrian Clarke also add their expert opinion on a range of current issues. We thoroughly recommend you give it a listen! 

Michael Calvin’s Football People is available wherever you get your podcasts from or you can click below and listen to it here.

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C.B.

If Mikel can keep going at the perfomance level and positivity in the squad I hope he is with us for many many years to come.

Henkamp

That’s the worry that has been chewing away at a corner of my mind, recently. I fear that sharks will soon start circling if Mikel continues this way.

TommyGun

Where else would he want to be. He is at the best club in the best league with an array of young talent that will only get better. Arsenal gave him his first shot as manager and kept faith in him and have backed him. That won’t be lost on him and I suspect he will not think about other roles until he has won various titles with us.

Eric Blair

Exactly. I could really imagine him at Barcelona one day, but in like 20 years! He’s here for the duration, and will want to take this particular team as far as it can and that is looking at the next 5 to 10 years.

Teryima Adi

And suddenly Boehly offers him a life contract at Chelsea with truckloads of cash.😀

One Beat Off

You don’t build a dynasty by leaving at the first success. He is Arsenal and has bigger plans.

Eric Blair

Agreed, I think his plan doesn’t end with a single PL title.

Boy Bastin

Good to read – very positive. I’m glad that nobody is getting too carried away yet though. Still as many games to play as we’ve already played this season.

Anon

At least we are competing again

Will need luck to go on and win it

Boy Bastin

Oh, certainly. What a difference over only a few seasons ago. We will need some luck, I think, as most successful teams do. We’ve had a pretty fortunate first half of the season injury/suspension wise (with the odd exceptions, of course) so we may pick up more in the second half. However, the squad in stronger in depth now so that should help.

Teryima Adi

Arteta shows tough love to Ramsdale – that’s good to know. He seems that kind of character because of the way he relates with opposing fans: you hardly get under his skin.😀

HKGooner

From doubting the decision for paying that amount of fee for him to really liking him and feeling lucky to have him as seeing the energy that he brings…..

AusGunner

tbh, for the last 12 months or so Arteta has reminded me a bit of Peak Mourinho in this respect. Not the cuntiness, but that within the team, he had the total trust, commitment and loyalty of all his players, total buy-in to all the work that was being done. I guess you can say that’s true of Klopp and Guardiola as well but Mourinho seemed to do it in a way that elevated the whole team to another level (particularly Inter) and I’m not sure that applies to Kloppuiola, who both had just absolutely excellent teams. Think the same… Read more »

14.

Ramsdale loves doing Podcasts.

Arsecast next?

Onenil

Win the league first! 😁

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