Darren Bent includes West Ham United in list of destinations for Aaron Ramsdale
Darren Bent has listed West Ham among Premier League teams he believes out-of-favour Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale could have a starting place at.
The former Premier League striker, joined by Andy Goldstein also named Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle as sides Ramsdale would improve if he were to leave the North London side in January.
Bent questioned Arsenal’s reasoning for dropping the goalkeeper who was their first-choice last season, and suggested it was the wrong choice as he could go and improve one of their rival teams.
Bent and Goldstein were discussing Ramsdale’s decision live on talkSPORT as Bent shared: “This is where the sticking point is because when you look at the league table and you start thinking about Aaron Ramsdale…
“I think he can go pretty much… Not everywhere, but there are a lot of clubs out there that I believe he is better than their goalkeeper now.”
Goldstein added: “Okay, so Tottenham I’d say no,” to which Bent replied “I’d say Villa is a no, [Emiliano] Martinez is a good goalkeeper, Newcastle, I’d have him over [Nick] Pope. I think he’s better than [Andre] Onana. I think he’s better than West Ham’s goalkeepers!”
Goldstein then rounded off the list with: “He’s certainly better than Chelsea’s,” to which Bent summarised “We’ve just named four clubs like that.
“I don’t understand, why would you want him to go and make other people’s [sides] better? Certainly, if they’re your rivals or in and around that, [why] make them better?”
Would Ramsdale improve David Moyes’ side?
There is no doubting Ramsdale’s ability as a goalkeeper. He is an England international and was a mainstay between the sticks for Arsenal’s unsuccessful title challenge last time out, but Arteta moved quickly to replace him as soon as he had the chance.
In terms of Arteta’s decision, there is almost certainly more than meets the eye. Comments about rotating his options were a clear deflection. It seems he simply doesn’t rate Ramsdale as highly as he does David Raya.
For West Ham, meanwhile, Alphonse Areola has been proving so far this season why he was once on the books at both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The 30-year-old has played every minute of every Premier League game so far this season for Moyes.
His 44 saves made and 1.11 goals prevented so far display how reliable he has been between the sticks. One thing Ramsdale does have on Areola is age, and a move shouldn’t be ruled out in the future, but to claim it would be a huge improvement is harsh on the Frenchman.
In other West Ham news, a journalist has had especially high praise for Mohammed Kudus.