Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale shoulders PSV blame after howler

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Defiant Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has declared his side are a good enough team to avoid lame excuses as the Gunners bid to bounce back from their midweek Europa League defeat at PSV Eindhoven when Nottingham Forest visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

After stunning Liverpool at the City Ground last weekend in one of the shocks of the season so far, Steve Cooper’s relegation-battling side will be hungry to punish any further sloppiness from Mikel Arteta’s men, who are now winless in two matches in all competitions.

Ramsdale, who punched thin air from a corner – enabling Luuk de Jong to head home a second for the hosts on Thursday, is not interested in shifting the blame as he issued a rallying call to his startled team-mates.

“There were a number of things,” said Ramsdale, when asked why Arsenal struggled to find their groove against PSV. “But we are a good enough team not to be blaming things, obviously the pitch, etc.

“There is no point talking about that. There are plenty of things we can take from the game, both as a team and individually.”

Arsenal remain top of the table in the Premier League but Manchester City are now just two points adrift of their biggest challengers following last weekend’s underwhelming 1-1 draw at Southampton.

The Gunners are expected to carry out fitness tests on Gabriel Magalhaes, who limped off the field in Holland at full-time after coming on as a second-half substitute.

He was also later spotted hobbling onto the team bus following the contest, meaning his availability for the clash with Forest could now be placed under threat.

While one unbeaten run has now ended, Ramsdale is determined to ensure another one starts this Sunday on home soil as Arsenal strive to put things right following an unexpected two-game blip.

“Even when we win it’s a learning curve because there are things which we can improve, individually and collectively. We will digest this now, the manager will go through it and we then prepare for Nottingham Forest,” the England international added.

“It was a disappointing ending, obviously our nine-game unbeaten run has come to an end as well. It was also really disappointing to make a mistake but we are looking forward now.

“We can’t change what has happened on the pitch, so Sunday it is full focus on the Premier League and getting back to winning ways – we hope.”

Forest remain cemented to the foot of the Premier League table, despite taking four points from their patch two league matches.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus.

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