In what are likely the final remnants of Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal career, what a sorry ending.
An ending which, bar an injury to David Raya, caps off a season turbulent on a personal note, his battles on the pitch proving as stubborn as those within his own head.
It could, of course, have been much worse if Kai Havertz had not come to the rescue with an 86th-minute headed winner to see off Brentford on Saturday.
Wissa then committed a sliding challenge to deflect Ramsdale’s attempted kick into the net.
Aaron Ramsdale’s blunder against Brentford will form part of how he is remembered at Arsenal
On his day, Ramsdale is exceptional and confident. His professionalism has stood the test of time. However, seeds of doubt were sown earlier this season
It was poor indeed. The England man should have cleared the ball forward seconds before his opponent could even get near him.
Arsenal’s substitutes and backroom staff made their way over to the 25-year-old at half-time, slapping him on the back by way of encouragement. It echoed the reception usually given to a child for taking part, but not quite hitting the required mark.
Seeds of doubt within the ‘keeper were sown just weeks after this campaign began. That September 17 evening, when Raya replaced him in the Gunners’ 1-0 victory over Everton, is significant.
Not just because it was the beginning of the end for Ramsdale, his No 1 spot having been taken for good. But the manner in which it was handled. Mikel Arteta spoke of how keepers are interchangeable, suggesting they could be swapped between games or even in a game.
Opportunities have been there for this. The 5-0 procession at half-time away to Sheffield United last week, when 3-0 up at Burnley after 47 minutes on February 17 and the 4-0 scoreline at the interval at West Ham on February 11. All perfect occasions for such swapping, if that theory rung true.
Instead, Ramsdale has warmed the bench, only featuring in cup ties, a Champions League dead-rubber game against PSV Eindhoven or when facing Brentford in the league because of Raya’s ineligibility to face his parent club.
Those match-winning displays in the Gunners’ title bid last season, such as in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in April last year where he pulled off two sensational stoppage-time saves to keep his team in title contention, will remain in the memory.
On his day, he is exceptional. A ‘keeper who exudes bravery in the air and has great distribution on the counter-attack.
Mikel Arteta has not swapped between Ramsdale and David Raya as promised months ago
Arteta has put his trust in Raya despite encouraging Gareth Southgate to consider Ramsdale for England
This was seen on 16 minutes when he effectively sent Leandro Trossard through on goal with a monstrous throw after retrieving the ball off a corner-kick.
But unfortunately, it is games like the one on Saturday which are how Ramsdale will be remembered this season.
It cannot have been easy at all for him to have gone into this fixture. Mikel Arteta had this week called upon Gareth Southgate to look past Ramsdale’s Arsenal exclusion and consider him for England’s Euros squad this summer.
Lo and behold, Southgate was at the Emirates on Saturday. Some pressure.
If anything, what Ramsdale cannot be accused of is a lack of trying. His professionalism has stood the test of time, never to publicly complain about losing his place despite his feats for the north London club in the preceding two campaigns.
Many a player would have kicked up an almighty fuss. Not Ramsdale.
A telling sign of how much playing for the club means to him was before the Gunners’ Champions League match away to Sevilla.
The Arsenal X/Twitter account announced on October 21 that his wife Georgina had given birth to their son.
Ramsdale has been a consummate professional and supported his replacement throughout the season
Three days later, Ramsdale was on a flight to Spain despite knowing he would unlikely be required.
If this is his last appearance in a Gunners shirt — he is expected to have many suitors in the summer window — one can only hope wherever he goes, he regains that on-pitch confidence he once held, and quickly.
