For Aaron Ramsdale the scars of last season’s ill-fated, top four chase acts as motivation.
After 25 games last season, Arsenal sat fourth, seemingly in total control with 13 games left. They had three games in hand on both Manchester United and West Ham in fifth and sixth. They were also six points clear of seventh-placed Spurs. They were masters of their own destiny - until they were crushed in a decisive north London derby.
Spurs would go on to claim their place in the Champions League. Tears were shed, hearts were broken and Mikel Arteta’s young side were left licking their wounds in the Europa League. The whole thing was captured on film in their compelling All Or Nothing series by Amazon.
A year on, Ramsdale and his young Arsenal team-mates are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table - way ahead of schedule. They are stronger, yet wise enough not to get carried away. The pain from last season cut them deep.
“It hurt a lot,” said Ramsdale, “Especially as we’d lost to the other lot down the road, which made it even worse for our fans and for us.
“That was definitely a driving factor at the start of the season and is something now we forget about because of the position we are in.
“But it was definitely massive at the start of the year.”
While Arsenal were easing to a 4-0 win over Everton and establishing a five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League. Spurs were being put out of the FA Cup on Wednesday. By Championship promotion-chasers Sheffield United.
But Ramsdale spoke only of his side’s unfinished business in the top flight. He added: “What’s driving us on is the scars of last year – no one has forgotten about that and what happened.
“That’s a big driving force in this team. But now we have experienced players who have been there and done it at multiple different Premier Leagues, Carabao Cups, FA Cups, European Championships.
“So we’ve been there and done it – some of the players. Others are 20, 21, 22 playing the best football of their career and carrying this football team forward.”
Defeats last month to Everton and Manchester City, either side of a draw at home to Brentford, left many fearing Arsenal had run out of gas with experienced City waiting to pounce.
But Wednesday night’s 4-0 win Everton was Tottenham ’s third in a row since then. The lessons are being learned.
“It is just knowing our mistakes at the end of the season,” Ramsdale went on. “Not under-estimating the teams we dropped points against and knowing we have to trust our process, trust our basics.
“It is knowing that if we do nine out of ten, ten out of 10 then we should get results and if we don't at least we can say we have done everything we can.
“There were times last year we dipped under our levels, didn't do what we had practised or what we had done all season.
“So it was a big lesson for us and we are just taking it into each game.”
