Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has revealed the squad still have “scars” from the painful events of last season.
Backtrack to May 2022, a date Gunners’ fans will not remember fondly.
After 25 games, Arsenal sat in fourth place, and held all the cards over the teams below them, with three games in hand over fifth-placed Manchester United.
Meanwhile, they were seven points adrift of bitter rivals Tottenham, and seemingly masters of their own destiny.
Then came the north London derby, where Arsenal’s top four hopes came crashing down in the most dramatic circumstances
Tottenham went on to claim fourth place as Arsenal were left wondering where it all went wrong.
Ramsdale: “It’s what drives us on”
Gunners’ shot stopper Ramsdale has since opened up on events, stating that “the scars” have spurred them on this season.
“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.”
The 24-year-old continued: “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.”
However, this season has been a very different story, with the high-flying Gunners leading the way at the top of the Premier League.
A 4-0 thrashing over Everton put five points between themselves and second-placed Manchester City, with fans eyeing their first domestic title since 2004.
Supporters will hope they won’t repeat last year’s mistakes, with a Champions League place all but guaranteed, barring an almighty capitulation.
