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Football London
Football London
Sport
Bobby Vincent

Gabriel Martinelli reveals the surprise playmaker in Arsenal squad as 'unbelievable' claim made

Since Aaron Ramsdale arrived at the Emirates Stadium last summer, the Arsenal goalkeeper has surprised virtually everyone.

There was a lot of criticism when the Gunners splashed £25million to bring the England international to the club from Sheffield United, who had just been relegated to the Championship.

However, he quickly took Bernd Leno's spot as first-choice goalkeeper and ever since, Ramsdale has been sensational in between the posts for Arsenal.

His shot stopping ability has been phenomenal and his ability while in possession of the ball is perhaps an underrated attribute of his - but not to his Arsenal team-mates.

Gunners attacker Gabriel Martinelli, while speaking to The Athletic about the English keeper, described his ability to act as a playmaker in the team as "unbelievable".

Martinelli said: "We are a family. We do not just see it as we go to work and we play some football. It is more than that for us.

"We are all getting stronger together, on and off the pitch. We try and go for some meals together. In Dubai, during the mid-season training camp, we did a whole staff and team barbecue together, which was really nice.

"All the players are unbelievable to me. I love Emile [Smith Rowe] and [Bukayo] Saka; how they play, they are so smart, they read the game so quickly. Honestly, I love playing with them.

"Ben [White] and Aaron [Ramsdale] are really nice people and they try and speak to everyone. Ramsdale on the ball is unbelievable, he can put the ball wherever he wants.

"And Ben - he is so secure, he can dribble, he can play a long ball, he can do whatever he wants with the ball. Both of them are so good for us.

"We train [long through balls from Ramsdale] in the week. Aaron can do it and I run to give him options. It is like having another [outfield] player on the pitch if the goalkeeper can do that."

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