Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale said he had to leave Arsenal this summer after losing his place to David Raya.
The England keeper joined the Saints for £25m and returns to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
With the Gunners flying under Mikel Arteta Ramsdale could have been in line for silverware this season but said he couln’t stomach being a mere squad player.
“If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me,” Ramsdale told BBC One’s Football Focus when asked about his move.
“I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench.
“Getting out and playing was my aim so I’m lucky I found myself here at Southampton.”
Back to haunt Arsenal 👻
⏪ Last time out at the Emirates: pic.twitter.com/NnFQhe4vUp
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) October 3, 2024
Southapton have taken one point from six games so far, and manager Russell Martin was annoyed with his side for having “no aggression, no courage, no intensity” in their defeat to Bournemouth on Monday night.
But Ramsdale does not expect to see a change in the club’s style of play.
“Martin is top,” he added. “His enthusiasm, the way he wants to play, the way he wants to do things – he’s going to stick by it.
“He’s not going to change because other people say he needs to.”
