Southgate Should Choose Arsenal’s Ramsdale for England Euros Squad, Arteta Says

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts ahead of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on March 4, 2024. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts ahead of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on March 4, 2024. (AFP)
TT

Southgate Should Choose Arsenal’s Ramsdale for England Euros Squad, Arteta Says

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts ahead of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on March 4, 2024. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts ahead of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on March 4, 2024. (AFP)

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's consistency should earn him a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the European Championship in Germany, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said ahead of Saturday's Premier League meeting with Brentford.

Ramsdale has played five league games this season compared to 38 matches last season. The Englishman lost his starting spot to David Raya after the Spaniard joined Arsenal on loan from Brentford in last year's close season.

Ramsdale is set to start the league game on Saturday as Raya is ineligible to play for his parent club.

"I don't know how Gareth is thinking but if I were placed that situation, I would judge Aaron not for what he has done in one day but what he has done in the last two or three seasons," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"He has shown consistency and quality. It would give me no reason to make another decision. A player has to be himself, and one of the biggest qualities of Aaron is his character and his charisma, his enthusiasm, his energy."

England are grouped with Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia at Euro 2024, which begins on June 14.



Bayern's Neuer Vows to Play On Beyond this Season

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he will not retire at season's end, despite stepping down from international football - AFP
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he will not retire at season's end, despite stepping down from international football - AFP
TT

Bayern's Neuer Vows to Play On Beyond this Season

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he will not retire at season's end, despite stepping down from international football - AFP
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he will not retire at season's end, despite stepping down from international football - AFP

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said Sunday he plans to play on beyond the current season, despite retiring from international football earlier this week.

Neuer's contract at Bayern runs until the end of the campaign.

In an interview with German sports magazine Kicker, Neuer said: "I'm not going into this season with the idea of saying goodbye afterwards...

"If we successfully complete the season with the new coaching team and with new momentum, that means I'll be having fun.

"And if it's fun, I'll definitely carry on."

According to AFP, the 38-year-old said Wednesday he felt capable of playing for Germany until the 2026 World Cup, but said he was stepping down to focus on Bayern.

"Of course there's a bit of sadness with the decision, but at the same time there's a lot of relief," the 2014 World Cup winner said.

Neuer said discussions about an extension at Bayern were "a long way off" but added "the time will come".

Goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel, who has a contract with Bayern until 2029 but is currently on loan at Stuttgart until 2026, is widely believed to be in line to replace Neuer in Munich.

Neuer joined Bayern from boyhood club Schalke in 2011 and has won 11 Bundesliga titles with the Bavarian side, along with the Champions League twice.

Bayern's Allianz Arena will host this season's Champions League final.

Neuer is the third 2014 World Cup winner to retire from Germany duty this summer, after Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller.

Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan, who missed the 2014 World Cup through injury, also stepped down from international football this week.