Aaron Ramsdale in tears on Arsenal pitch after goalkeeper made first return to Emirates

Aaron Ramsdale, the former Arsenal shot-stopper, was visibly moved by the heartfelt welcome he received from the Gunners’ faithful on his return to the club with Southampton.

During Saturday afternoon’s gruelling Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, Ramsdale, who switched to Saints in a £25million deal after leaving the Gunners, was uncertain of the reception he’d face in north London.

Yet, as he stepped out for the pre-match warm-up ahead of kick-off, the early-bird fans gave him an ovation so warm, it stirred an emotional tide in the ex-Arsenal man.

In the dying moments of stoppage time, chants of his name echoed throughout the stadium, and a legion of supporters remained post-victory to stand and applaud their former goalkeeper following Arsenal’s triumph, sealing a 3-1 win.

Ramsdale’s Arsenal tenure saw him make 89 appearances before bowing out in pursuit of more consistent first-team action, with his position usurped by David Raya under Mikel Arteta’s command.

Facing the choice of sidelines or game time, Ramsdale opted for regular play over the bench’s cold comforts, emphasising his desire to play regular football.

Speaking to the BBC before the match, Ramsdale expressed that lifting trophies would hold little allure if not earned from the fray of active play: “If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me,” he confessed.

“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.”

The Saints goalkeeper had a solid first half against his former team, saving a low Thomas Partey shot from the edge of the box and quickly getting back to his feet to prevent the rebound from going in.

Arsenal struggled to break through in the first half, entering the break with the score tied at 0-0, despite controlling possession and having numerous set-piece opportunities. However, Bukayo Saka changed the game in the second half, setting up Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli for goals before scoring one himself.

Ramsdale left Arsenal on good terms, with Arteta giving him his blessing to leave. “What he did for me in my time at Arsenal, I can only thank him for, and he thanked me for my contribution [when leaving],” Ramsdale told talkSPORT.

“Not just myself but as a football club, getting back into the Champions League, pushing for a trophy. Ultimately, as managers do and top managers do, they have to make decisions which will upset people. He made that decision and we still speak.”

“I’m obviously looking forward to getting some games under my belt here and we have Arsenal in a few weeks which will be a nice return.”