Former Arsenal and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has praised Aaron Ramsdale for the way he has established himself as the Gunners’ number one.

The 24-year-old joined from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021 and he quickly became a key figure for Mikel Arteta‘s side. Cech says he didn’t expect the shot-stopper to make such an easy transition, after playing a very different style of football at the Blades:

“I have to say he surprised me with the way he adapted from coming from a completely different style of football to Arsenal. We know when he was at Sheffield United it was a different style, he wanted to play quick, simple and direct, at Bournemouth he had to play, that was a different story, but it’s different playing for a team at the top of the table rather than the bottom of the table.”

One of the reasons why Ramsdale has adapted so quickly is his self-confidence. It’s clear that he has genuine belief in his own ability and that is vital as a keeper where being decisive brings security to those around you.

Some, like Cech, have also been taken back by his ability to play out from the back but it’s unlikely to have come as a surprise to Arteta or his goalkeeping coach Inaki Cana who did a lot of homework on the England international before deciding to snap him up last year.