Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has become a cult figure at the Emirates Stadium for his ability to wind-up opposition supporters. On his 25th birthday, Express Sport looks back at three hilarious moments involving the shot-stopper.
Mocking Leicester chant
Goalkeepers are often met with mocking chants every time they take goal kicks. However, Ramsdale was clearly completely unbothered when Leicester supporters attempted to put him off one kick at the King Power Stadium.
Foxes fans began their usual “Ooooooooh…” as the England star approached the ball before sending it upfield. Ramsdale was in no mood to let them finish the retort by themselves, instead performing a fist-pump and joining in with the: “You’re s***, aaaahh!”
What was even better for Ramsdale is that he produced an excellent performance as Arsenal won 2-0. He cemented his position as first-choice goalkeeper under Mikel Arteta with two world-class saves.
Celebrating in front of Leeds fans
Leeds fans have twice been the victims of Ramsdale’s winding-up antics. During a 4-1 Arsenal win at Elland Road, the 24-year-old was filmed celebrating three of his side’s goals with silly dances to annoy the home crowd.
Later on, he hilariously revealed that coins thrown in his direction amounted to £17. He told Ben Foster’s YouTube channel: "After the first [goal], there were some bottles and stuff thrown, a few lighters, and I chucked them off to the side," Ramsdale said.
"The next thing you know, money started coming on. I'm looking around and there was one £2 - well, I collect £2 coins, so I took that. Then there’s quids and 50ps, so I'm picking them up and I put them by my towel, [then] at half time I put them in my towel, I run off and put them in the changing room.
"Second half comes, a few more come, and then an e-cig comes on just before the penalty. So I've gone back in and I'm speaking to Kalvin Phillips, going 'your fans must be loaded' - it was about £17 I pulled off the pitch. And I've missed some money - I couldn't pick them all up - it was about £17 I took back in."
In another visit to the stadium earlier this season, Ramsdale was filmed fist-pumping and waving in front of the Leeds fans after helping his side seal a crucial 1-0 victory.
But will the winding-up be curbed?
Ramsdale has admitted that he could need to curb his behaviour after a Tottenham fan assaulted him during the North London Derby earlier this season. A 35-year-old man pleaded guilty to three charges, including assault by beating, after he climbed the barriers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and appeared to aim a kick at the Arsenal shot-stopper.
Providing a witness statement during the trial, Ramsdale said: “I have never had someone enter the pitch and hit me,” he said. “Now when I’m playing away I will have to be conscious it could happen again.”
