Chris Sutton believes Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale is a ‘more accomplished and safer goalkeeper’ than England No 1 Jordan Pickford.
Locking horns with Ian Ladyman on Mail Sport’s It’s All Coming Up podcast, the former Premier League winner urged that Ramsdale is hot on the heels of Everton’s shot-stopper and said he prefers the Arsenal man ‘every day of the week’ in certain situations.
Pickford kept his place between the sticks during England’s 1-1 draw with Ukraine last Friday, as the Three Lions dropped points for the first time in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Gareth Southgate then handed Ramsdale the gloves at Hampden Park on Tuesday as England beat Scotland 3-1 in a special heritage friendly to commemorate 150 years of international football.
Pickford, who during his time between the sticks has led England to a World Cup semi-final in 2018 and a Euro final in 2020, has endured a poor run of form with Everton this season, failing to keep a clean sheet in their first four matches.
Chris Sutton (right) believes Aaron Ramsdale is a ‘more accomplished and safer goalkeeper’ than England No 1 Jordan Pickford after watching the pair during the international break
Pickford is still Gareth Southgate’s No 1 despite Everton’s struggles at the start of the season
Arsenal’s Ramsdale starred in England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday
According to Ladyman, the international break proved that Pickford is the right No 1 for England at the moment, as Ramsdale failed to impress ‘with his hands and with his feet’ against Scotland.
He said: ‘I must admit, having watched both of these guys play for England over the last few days, I have to say, I don’t think there’s much contest there. I think Jordan Pickford is now far and away our best goalkeeper, with his hands and with his feet.’
Sutton, quick to respond, replied: ‘Really? So a ball’s going into the box, a free-kick whipped into the box in the 92nd minute of a tight game, who would you prefer in goal? I’d have Ramsdale over Pickford every day of the week. I think he’s a more accomplished, safer goalkeeper.’
Pickford and Ramsdale will face off against one another in the Premier League this weekend, as Arsenal take on Everton at Goodison Park.
One small criticism of Ramsdale’s game has been his ability to pass out from the back in comparison to the likes of Premier League goalkeepers Ederson, Alisson and Andre Onana.
Arsenal signed David Raya on loan from Brentford this summer, and Ramsdale knows he has to perform at the highest level in order to keep his place at the Emirates.
Pickford (left) shouts at his defenders after conceding against Ukraine in the 1-1 draw
The Toffees star and current England No 1 is generally viewed as a better passer than Ramsdale
But Sutton doesn’t feel Ramsdale is too far away from Pickford as far as passing out from the back is concerned.
He added: ‘The debate about Pickford with his feet, I think Pickford is a little bit cleaner, but I don’t think that Ramsdale is that bad with his feet. Did you not, I mean, you were at Hampden the other night, did you not see the raking long pass to Trippier in the game?’
Despite agreeing with his podcast partner, Ladyman also saw moments of shakiness from Ramsdale during the win at Hampden Park.
‘Yes, I did but I also saw other moments when he had the ball at his feet, when he was far less accomplished. And I hear what you’re saying about Pickford,’ he replied.
‘Tell me if I’m wrong, but I think when you talk about a cross in the 90th minute, I think you’re referring to that slightly excitable part of Pickford’s nature, which can see him get very emotionally invested in his games. I highlighted that as a weakness.
‘When they were knocked out in 2018. I actually thought he would struggle to keep his place as an international because of that. But I think he smartened all that up.’
Ladyman (left) doesn’t think there’s much of a contest between Pickford and Ramsdale, insisting that the Everton goalkeeper is far better with his feet and boasts more experience
Chris Sutton, continuing his defence of Ramsdale, said: ‘But are you saying that Ramsdale is that bad an option? That seems to be where you’re going with this.
‘I think that both goalkeepers are very closely matched. I think if you were to choose one, most people across the country would say they prefer Ramsdale over Pickford.’
Not having any of it, Ladyman replied: ‘Wow, I don’t know where you’re getting that from. I don’t know where you see that!
‘Let’s see what happens at Goodison on Sunday. And you never know when we get together for It’s All Kicking Off in the studio on Monday morning, we might have a little bit more Ramsdale vs Pickford evidence to go to.’