World Cup: Aaron Ramsdale backs Arsenal team-mate Bukayo Saka to take a penalty for England in Qatar | Football News

Aaron Ramsdale has backed Bukayo Saka to step up and take a penalty for England on the World Cup after praising his Arsenal team-mate for his “impeccable” response to the fallout from his heartbreak at Euro 2020.

Having missed the deciding penalty in the ultimate shootout defeat to Italy, Saka was subjected to racist abuse – as have been Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who have been additionally unsuccessful from the spot.

Saka has scored each spot-kick he has taken for Arsenal since his Wembley miss, together with in large video games towards Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Asked if he felt Saka would nonetheless take one for England, Ramsdale replied: “Absolutely. He is three from three since that day.

“I feel he has realised it was simply one thing that occurred to him and he wouldn’t draw back from that as a result of he’s that kind of individual. He is aware of the sensation now and hopefully subsequent time he steps up he can put the ball in the again of the online.”

The respective membership type of Ramsdale and Saka – together with defender Ben White – means the Gunners have three representatives in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

Saka has actually let his soccer do the speaking as he ended final season as Arsenal’s high goalscorer and has thus far this 12 months been one in all their standout gamers as they sit 5 factors clear on the Premier League summit.

“Impeccably, probably,” Ramsdale replied when requested how he felt Saka had dealt with the miss and subsequent abuse final 12 months.

“The kid’s a lovely boy, he has time for everyone, works super hard throughout every week. Very, very rarely misses a training session and used all that motivation of criticism but also more so the love that everyone gave him, gave him an extra boost.

“Don’t overlook he had the stress of the entire soccer membership on him final 12 months – him and Emile Smith Rowe have been our most important guys – and he has handled that, he is handled all the things else. He is flourishing and I am unable to wait to see him thrive
over right here.”

Ramsdale went on to say there was “little question” that Saka was now a stronger character “off the pitch and on it” since the incident and that it has made him a “extra full individual”.

“When we missed out on the highest 4, he felt prefer it was all his fault as a result of he could not present for us,” added Ramsdale.

“I used to be simply in a position to replicate that the season earlier than they completed eighth, this season we completed fifth, and if we go one other step once more we might be in the highest 4. It’s that perspective of: it is a sport of soccer and there is a lot extra to it.”

While he has backed Saka to be a success from the spot, Ramsdale additionally revealed England should not planning to practise penalties towards their goalkeeping contingent for concern of the trio changing into too good at saving them and decreasing confidence among the many takers.

“We haven’t done any with goalkeepers at the minute, we have something which is called a skills net where the corners are open,” he mentioned.

“At the moment I think the lads are just working on sort of the technique. I think it can become detrimental if they are taking them against goalkeepers because we then start to know where they are going.

“We can begin to gamble a little bit, particularly once we don’t desire to get scored on on a regular basis. So, the later rounds, I feel we’ll begin seeing them launched into extra pressurised ones with the goalkeepers.

“If I know where you are going seven times out of 10 and I start cheating and going early and start saving them, you might start worrying about it. Start by aiming at where you are going to go in the skills net, take a couple against the
goalkeeper and we go from there.

“Because all people can take penalties, it’s simply these superb stress margins which we will not recreate on the market sadly.”

Ramsdale’s father turned a cult determine in the All or Nothing: Arsenal documentary that aired on Amazon earlier this 12 months – his expletive-laden reactions to on-field motion exhibiting how tight the household unit is.

“There was definitely a few tears shed from him,” Ramsdale mentioned when he informed his dad he was in the squad.

“I think if I actually make it on the pitch, he might not return home. He might have a heart attack.

“It’s particular for my household, particularly for my mum and pop who’ve drove up and down the nation, flying me around the globe. He will not have any nails left, let’s put it that means.”

Gallagher ‘a little bit surprised’ to be called up

Conor Gallagher desires to profit from his shock spot in England’s World Cup squad after admitting he’s lucky to be in Qatar.

Gallagher has performed 18 instances in all competitions for Chelsea this season however has solely made eight begins.

A scarcity of minutes noticed the Chelsea midfielder drop again into the England U21s squad in September, including to his sense of shock when he received a message on the physio mattress final Thursday that he was in Southgate’s World Cup squad.

“I didn’t really expect it, but obviously I was hoping there was a chance,” Gallagher mentioned.

“I stored hope and once I received the textual content I used to be so proud and honoured.

“I told my dad first. Always. He’d always be the first person I’d tell that amazing news to because he’s my biggest fan, and my biggest inspiration.”

Asked if he feels a bit fortunate to be in the squad given the competitors, he mentioned: “Yeah, like I said, I was a little bit surprised.

“I’ve not performed constant soccer with Chelsea and as a group, Chelsea haven’t performed nice this season – we have positively received a lot to enhance and I’m positive we are going to.

“But I am very grateful and honoured that the England manager has showed his belief in me and saw what I can do when I’ve played for Chelsea this season and obviously last season as well.”