Arsenal shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale expressed his wish to win the Europa League with the Gunners, however preferring it over finishing in the top four in the Premier League. Arsenal have been in stellar form this season, as Mikel Arteta’s process is in full swing at the Emirates. They were in touching distance of the top-four last season, only to pipped by Tottenham in the closing stages of the campaign.
The Gunners, as a result, once again invested heavily in the summer market, splashing over £100 million over five signings. Their marquee recruits Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko have hit top form, contributing 10 goals combined in all competitions so far. It has Arsenal sitting atop of the Premier League, with 8 wins from 9 games, as they are also flourishing in the Europa League after finishing fifth last season.
Ramsdale eyeing two birds with one stone through Europa triumph
Ramsdale picking Europa League over a top four may have raised the eyebrows of many Arsenal fans, who are already dreaming of the winning the Premier League title. The Gunners are yet to feature in the Champions League since the 2016/17 season, when they finished in the top four during the 2015/16 campaign. The North Londoners’ fans are yearning for Champions League, especially when their local rivals Tottenham are enjoying the competition more frequently.
In his interview however, Ramsdale explained the reason he wants to win the Europa League more than achieving the top-four. The England international said:
“Lets be right, we got more chance of winning the Europa League than we have the Champions League – at this moment in time. So, silverware would be perfect for us. And the boss [Mikel Arteta] is really hammering that home at the moment that we can have a great season and win a trophy.
“Personally, I’d want to win the Europa League and if that means we sacrifice by finishing fifth in the league; you still qualify for the Champions League and you win silverware with it. But Champions League [qualification] for sure and then I think we give it a real good go in the FA Cup… and Carabao Cup. One of the domestic cups with a European trophy would be a perfect season.
“And the fans always have banter with other teams of when they last won trophies so why would you not go and try win the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup? For me, that would be a dream to win a couple of trophies this year… to win a couple of trophies in your career. You might never do it. So I don’t get why we would try and do something different.”
As evident, the 24-year-old has kept in mind all the aspects while choosing Europa League over top-four. It is true that if all Arsenal go all the way and clinch the European trophy, they will be guaranteed participation in next year’s Champions League irrespective of where they finish in the Premier League this season. Moreover, they will also be placed in pot 1 for the Champions League group stage draw, where they will be accompanied by the respective league winners from nations competing.
This way, the Gunners would be drawn in an easier group to play out in the elite European competition. The Europa trophy will be a bonus, which they came close to winning in 2019 only for Chelsea to topple them in the final. Arsenal last won a trophy in 2020, lifting the FA Cup days after the appointment of Mikel Arteta. No wonder why the Spaniard is “hammering” on winning a trophy as revealed by Ramsdale. At the moment, they next face Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League as they look to continue their 100%record in the competition.