Aaron Ramsdale has endured a tough start to life at SouthamptonCredit: Reuters
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Mikel Arteta axed Ramsdale for new No.1 David RayaCredit: Getty
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Arsenal may be forced to create some new corner routines against RamsdaleCredit: Alamy
And he is now able to give Russell Martin’s Saints the lowdown on his old side’s potent set-piece routines that have produced 45 goals in all competitions, excluding penalties, since July 2021 – the most in Europe’s top five leagues.
Asked if Arsenal need to adapt with this in mind, Arteta said: “Probably.
“Maybe we tell [Ramsdale] that we will adapt something but then do the same thing so he thinks we’re going to adapt it! So, there’s maybe going to be some mind games.
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“I’m sure that they will have discussed that. It’s not the first time that we have played against a player that was in our camp, it’s natural that it happens.
“So, we need to have the capacity to understand and continue to do our things.”
Signed from Sheffield United for £30m in August 2021, Ramsdale, 26, was Arsenal’s No.1 for two terms before being axed by last season’s new arrival David Raya from Brentford.
Raya, 29, has since proven himself to be one of the best keepers in the Premier League, winning the Golden Glove last campaign with 16 clean sheets and was awarded August’s Save of the Month.
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Meanwhile, Ramsdale has so far conceded 10 goals in four outings for relegation-battling Southampton and was left out of Lee Carsley’s recent England squad.
But Arteta admits it was “hard” to let Ramsdale leave. The Spaniard added: “I am grateful for what he did. When we signed him there was a lot of noise around him.
“We helped to create the environment he needed because we believed in his potential. He showed it and won the respect and admiration of all of us.
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Arsenal set to play Champions League decider in half-empty stadium with tiny away allocation thanks to little-known rule
“And then the circumstances changed because this is elite sport and can happen. It was difficult to deal with that situation in a natural way and we decided to part ways.
“He decided he wanted to take another step in his career. I called him straight away after I got the news. He was really happy.
“He’s a player that we loved a lot, very charismatic and he really put his fingerprints here at the club in the way that he was. It will be very good to see him.”
Ramsdale has revealed his main motivation for leaving title-chasing Arsenal was to stop sitting on the bench, even if that means missing out on future silverware.
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He explained: “If I was sitting on the bench, winning a trophy wouldn’t have meant that much to me.
“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.”
Ramsdale has also put to bed any rumours that there were any bad feelings between himself and his replacement Raya – even if being picked up by cameras during games annoyed him.
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Ramsdale said: “It used to do my head in coming off the pitch and then my wife would say you were on TV five times today.
“After [Raya] made a save or a goal went in and [the camera] would pan to me on the bench. I do think the story was bigger than what it needed to be.
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Ramsdale and Raya were battling against each other for a starting spotCredit: Reuters
“It put pressure on David at times as well. I did an interview with David Seaman after my new contract. I said I wanted to emulate him an be there for eight to 10 years.
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“A couple of months later I was out of the team. I tried my hardest to dislodge David but I do think now the rewards are showing.
“He’s started the season incredibly well. He was actually the first person to text me from Arsenal after my move here.
“He was great and he was top. Like I say he’s made some big, big saves this season and kept them in some games. Just desperate he doesn’t have one of those games [today].”
Ramsdale has defended Saints boss Martin’s style of play – one that sees the club with one point from six games in lowly 19th.
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During their 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth on Monday, Southampton had 60 per cent possession but just three shots on target.
Ramsdale said: “Martin is top. 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.”
Arteta has also come out in defence of Martin’s approach, having seen this style help Southampton go 25 games unbeaten on their way to Prem promotion last term.
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Arteta argued: “I understand what [Martin] wants to do and why he does it.
“It is very difficult to coach it and, at the level that he has done it, to perform, it was a joy to watch [in the Championship].
“You need a lot of courage and I love that. When he was winning a lot of games nobody was talking about that and when you lose it is too much.
“They’ve been very unlucky not to have many more points because there were moments in the game where they have far better than the opponents.”
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Arsenal are unlikely to have Jurrien Timber [muscular] and Ben White [groin] at their disposal, while skipper Martin Odegaard [ankle] and Oleksandr Zinchenko [calf] remain out until after the international break.
It always felt like a matter of when, rather than if, the pitch recycled from the first Test would play a part in the second.
Before it did, Pakistan must have been suffering deja vu from the first Test. On that occasion, they posted a strong 556, only to be pulverised by England’s Bazballers. When Duckett was going strong, sharing partnerships in excess of 50 with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Root, history was repeating.
Sajid was one of four changes to the Pakistan XI and, even in the face of Duckett’s assault – England were scoring at five an over – Sajid carried the biggest threat.
And, late on the seventh day of cricket played on this pitch, the surface had its say. The ball for Root’s sweep may have kept a touch low, Duckett tried to drive out of the rough and Brook was unwise in trying to force against the spin. Stokes prodded like a man who has missed four Tests with a hamstring injury.
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In the blink of an eye, England were floored. Dreams of a first-innings advantage turned into a grim battle for survival. From here, even getting to parity would be a remarkable effort.
Then there is also the thought of the conditions England might face in the fourth innings. Pakistan hold all the cards in their bid to level the series.
Royval entered the contest at No. 3 in the men’s flyweight division. After winning, he gets one spot closer to the top, swapping positions with No. 2 Amir Albazi.
Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
Celtic have been fined approximately £16,700 for the “lighting of fireworks” during their recent Champions League defeat away to Borussia Dortmund.
And the Scottish Premiership champions could face a one-match ban on away fans at a Uefa club match if there is another incidence in the next two years.
Uefa said, external its control, ethics and disciplinary body had decided: “To fine Celtic FC €20,000 and to ban Celtic FC from selling tickets to its away supporters for a total of one (1) UEFA club competition match, for lighting of fireworks.
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“Said ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two (2) years, starting from the date of the present decision.”
Celtic opened their league phase with a 5-1 home win over Slovan Bratislava before losing 7-1 in Germany.
ANDY DILLON: Thomas Tuchel has all the ingredients to become a classic England manager – tactical nous, drive and a tangled love life
By Andy Dillon
THOMAS TUCHEL possesses all the ingredients to become a classic England manager.
Tactical nous, drive, energy, experience – a tangled love life.
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English football should welcome back the most explosive, dynamic, charismatic and impossibly tall and gangly coach to have lit up the Premier League.
Chelsea’s colourful former boss has been leading a settled life in Munich of late.
Far enough away from ex-wife Sissi but close enough to see his two daughters.
Walking his dog in the streets in the east of Germany’s most fashionable city, residing in the posh Bogenhausen area. Living relatively quietly with his Brazilian girlfriend.
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Tuchel is a vastly different personality to the man who led England quietly but assuredly to the brink of World Cups and European Championships.
An excitable nature can make him hard to handle for those seeking calm and who like to impose their way on a manager they view very much as an underling.
“Our pathway is really strong, both from a coaches and players point of view. There are a lot of fantastic young coaches.
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“Clearly you would love to have five to ten domestic candidates who are coaching clubs in your domestic league, challenging and winning honours in your domestic league and European football.
Thomas Tuchel England Press Conference
Inside FA’s thrilling chase for Tuchel
THE FA’s path to securing Thomas Tuchel’s signature was not a straightforward one.
They tried to lure Pep Guardiola from Manchester City over the summer.
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They even made contact with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after deciding to target trophy-laden foreign gaffers.
The FA’s determination to go international was summed up by their decision NOT to interview Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Initial talks with Tuchel saw him express a slight interest in replacing Gareth Southgate.
But he was waiting to see what would happen at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s future under the spotlight.
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Man Utd owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe eventually decided to stick with Ten Hag – and that opened the door to the FA getting their man.
“As we set out our process, our priority was to find someone that can give our players the best possible chance to win.
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“We have found that, and we have got Thomas — and we are delighted.”
Aside from Howe, only Everton’s Sean Dyche and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil are English Prem bosses but Southampton’s Russell Martin was born in England despite playing for Scotland.
Ashley Cole has been appointed as a full-time national coach at the FA.
And Lee Carsley returns to lead the Under-21s after his stint as seniors boss ends this year.
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Bullingham added: “We would love to have more English coaches managing in the Premier League.”
Tuchel’s English No 2 at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Anthony Barry, will join the German in the Three Lions dugout.
And Bullingham said: “We had a clear recruitment plan in place before the Euros and a shortlist if we needed it.
“Thomas was absolutely outstanding, providing a really clear vision for the role and how he would work with our players.”
UFC veteran and BKFC fighter Mike Perry has issued an apology following a DUI arrest in Florida.
On Oct. 12, Perry was arrested by Clermont Police Department in Clermont, Fla. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing to sign a citation requiring a court appearance. During the interaction with police, Perry was verbally aggressive, as he used homophobic slurs when addressing officers.
“They know exactly who I am,” Perry said during the traffic stop, captured on police bodycam footage. “They’re f*cking mad. F*ck these f*ggots! Couple of f*ggots! They’re a couple of f*ggots, forget about it!”
Wednesday, Perry issued his first statement since the incident. In the words posted to X, Perry expressed regret for his actions and apologized to the police department. He also vowed to “ensure this type of behavior never happens again.”
I am writing this to express my deepest apologies for the inappropriate and disrespectful language I used towards members of the Clermont police department. I understand that my words were hurtful and offensive, and I sincerely regret my actions.
I recognize the important and often difficult work that law enforcement officers do to keep our community safe, and I truly respect the dedication and sacrifice that comes with the job. My behavior was inexcusable, and I take full responsibility for my actions.
Please know that this incident does not reflect how I truly feel about the [Police Department/Officers], and I will make every effort to ensure this type of behavior never happens again. I hope you can accept my apology as sincere, and I will be more mindful and respectful in the future. Thank you for your time and consideration.
New York Yankees star hitter Aaron Judge hits his first home run of the post-season as they beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in game two of the American League Championship Series, to lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
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