Examining Aaron Ramsdale: Part 2

Looking at and rating all the shots faced by Ramsdale before the World Cup break

In part 1, we went through the stats and how Aaron Ramsdale compared to his peers.

In the following parts, we will look at how his shot-stopping has looked this season by going through all of the shots that he has faced this season. Taking a look at the context around the shot from the video and the ratings (from Opta via FBRef) for the shot.

For length and readability, this will be broken into multiple parts. This version today will look at all the shots faced before the Premier League broke for the World Cup break.

For this subset of games, this is what my post-shot xG looks like for Ramsdale over this time period.

Overall he came out looking solid in this period that saw Arsenal jump out to an impressive lead in the Premier League. Let’s get into all the shots he faced here.

Crystal Palace (Away):

Shots on target faced: 2

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.3

This was a good start to the season for shot-stopping, he makes a solid save from a set play free header and makes a very good one on one save. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him an 8 out of 10 in this match, because Arsenal really let Palace have some scary good chances in this match but Ramsdale was up to the task to ensure the season started with a win.

Odsonne Édouard shot on target, xG 0.1, post shot xG 0.13. Ramsdale’s first shot on target of the season faced comes Crystal Palace set play. The ball goes out towards the far post and is headed back where Édouard get’s a pretty free look but can’t steer the chance toward a corner. It’s right at Ramsdale and he makes a fine save and smoother his rebound.

Eberechi Eze shot on target, xG 0.49, post shots xG 0.22. Arsenal is cut open with a through ball giving Eze a wide open one on one with Ramsdale. As will become a trend Ramsdale handles this situation quite well, he comes out but doesn’t over-commit making rounding him easy, he stays up and big so there isn’t an easy option on where to place the shot. In the end Eze faints like he is aiming for the far post but tries to go through the five hole which Ramsdale is able to block. A very good save in a pivotal moment.

Leicester City (Home):

Shots on target faced: 2

Goals Allowed: 2 (1 own goal)

Post Shot xG: 0.5

Overall this is a match is a pretty poor one on shot-stopping, he makes a solid save from a situation that could have been dangerous, gets caught out on an own goal and lets in a howler. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 3 out of 10 in this match, because he made the one save he needed.

Wesley Fofana shot on target, xG 0.11, post shot xG 0.3. Fofana is very far forward and it is probably a bit fortunate for Arsenal that it is him rather than a forward who gets this chance. He pretty deftly dribbles Saliba in the box setting up this shot. Gabriel makes sure this isn’t an easy chance, with Ramsdale in a good spot here to see the shot hit right at him.

Saliba own goal. He tries to cut out the early ball in the box and head it away or back to Ramsdale. It ends up getting past Ramsdale here (who might be a bit too far off his line kind of putting him in no man’s land) and goes in.

James Maddison goal, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.17. Leicester work the ball into the box and Maddison gets a reserve ball on the overlap that find some space out wide. This is a tough angle and one where he really should not be scoring from given how far out it is. He doesn’t even hit it that hard but it goes right through Ramsdale’s legs. This is a very soft goal to concede.

Bournemouth (Away):

Shots on target faced: 1

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.1

Overall this is a match that is hard to rate on shot-stopping, he makes a routine save and then has nothing else to do here. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match, because he made the one save he needed.

Chris Mepham shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.07. Arsenal are already cruising at this point when Mepham gets into the box. This is from a tough angle with lots of Arsenal bodies in the way and it ends up as a very tame shot that is a routine save at the near post.

Fulham (Home):

Shots on target faced: 3

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 1.1

Overall this is a fine shot-stopping match, I would give him a 7 out of 10 in this match, making two saves that while not exactly hard were probably a bit harder than routine and the goal allowed is from a mistake that his defense makes in front of him.

Aleksandar Mitrović goal, xG 0.08, post shot xG 0.82. This goal is much more on Gabriel than anyone else, he dwells on the ball and has it taken off of him by Mtirovic in the box. Ramsdale reacts quick to come off his line but as he is falling Mitrovic puts this one into the corner past Ramsdale’s spread.

Aleksandar Mitrović shot on target, xG 0.08, post shot xG 0.09. From a corner Mitrovic makes good contact with his header, Ramsdale reacts well and parries this away. Thankfully the header is pretty central because with the power he generates, this could have been a goal had it been a few feet less central.

Nathaniel Chalobah shot on target, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.16. Chalobah takes this set play shot on the volley and looks like he is just trying to make good contact and keep it on target. Chalobah does that but ends up hitting it at Ramsdale (with less power than he probably would have hoped) who does well to get his hands up and parry it away.

Aston Villa (Home):

Shots on target faced: 3

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 0.2

Overall this is a fine shot-stopping match, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match, making two expected saves and likely getting fouled on the goal that he allowed.

Emi Buendía shot on target, xG 0.05, post shot xG 0.06. This shot comes in a crowded box and doesn’t have a ton of power behind it. It is also right at Rmasdale where you would expect him to save it.

Leon Bailey shot on target, xG 0.24, post shot xG 0.12. Arsenal’s defense does a good job not giving Bailey the room to have a clear look at the goal here, his only choice is really near post or just beating Ramsdale with power. He tries power and Ramsdale palms it over.

Douglas Luiz goal, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.01. Luiz scores from the corner and somehow the goalkeeper is not given the benefit of the doubt for a foul call.

To my eye he looks to have been held here with the arms of the Aston Villa player reaching around but for once VAR doesn’t find a reason to disallow a goal

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Manchester United (Away):

Shots on target faced: 6

Goals Allowed: 3

Post Shot xG: 3.1

Overall this is weird game, he gives up three goals but really didn’t play bad. His defense left him in some very tough spots and he did fine to not allow a fourth goal here. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match, making two expected saves and one good one.

Jaydon Sancho shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.17. Sancho takes a speculative shot from wide through traffic. Ramsdale saves it with little fuss and solid positioning. The only real complaint might be that the rebound ends up in a central spot but the Arsenal defenders are the first to get to it and clear it.

Antony goal, xG 0.27, post shot xG 0.74. Arsenal get caught out in semi transition here with their press broken, and the foul played through with an advantage. Oleksandr Zinchenko get’s sucked into Marcus Rashford leaving Antony with a ton of space. Ramsdale is perhaps a touch slower on this closing down the space and guesses near post while Antony goes far post scoring.

Antony shot on target, xG 0.11, post shot xG 0.73. This feels like the model for these kinds of shots is a little broken, most of the time when a player tries a super long chipped shot like this the keeper is further off their line because there is no way this is anywhere close to the ratings that are presented here.

Ramsdale is able to get back pretty easy and catch the floated ball without much trouble. If he didn’t make the catch it would have felt like a real howler and not what this comes out looking like where it is a great save.

Marcus Rashford goal, xG 0.32, post shot xG 0.86. Arsenal had just equalized and were really pushing for a second goal and ended up getting caught out on the counter. Arsenal’s press is played through way too easily and then Bruno Fernandes plays a very good through ball for Rashford (Arsenal actually have 3 defenders back here so they really don’t seem to have pushed the numbers too far forward). Ramsdale’s positioning on this one on looks good to me, he has closed out the space but not over-committed. This one just ends up taking an unfortunate deflection from Ben White that might have made it so Ramsdale didn’t have a chance (it’s hard to say for certain if without that if is a goal regardless).

Bruno Fernandes shot on target, xG 0.32, post shot xG 0.33. This shot is one of Ramsdale’s own making with an errant pass under pressure turning into a Big Chance for Manchester United. This is the third one on one for United in this match and I think Ramsdale handles it well again, coming off his line aggressively but staying big. Fernandes tries the chip and Ramsdale is able to swat it away.

Marcus Rashford goal, xG 0.19, post shot xG 0.26. From a throw in, in their own half Manchester United are able to generate a two attackers vs keeper situation, it was some dreadful defending before this point and Ramsdale is left in an almost impossible situation.

When a team is in this spot they are going to come away with a goal pretty often. If you are being really tough maybe Ramsdale is slow here to come off his line compared to the other one on one situations he has faced in this match making the square ball a little too easy but not giving up a goal here would take perfection or a mistake from the opposing team.

Brentford (Away):

Shots on target faced: 2

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.4

Overall this is as an above-average game, he makes a routine save and then does good to make a potentially dangerous chance into a hard one and adds a nice save on top of it. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 7 out of 10 in this match.

Bryan Mbeumo shot on target, xG 0.04, post shot xG 0.14. The video of this one doesn’t show on Wyscout or in the highlights and it makes sense why, this is a pretty tame shot that is easy for Ramsdale to claim.

Mikkel Damsgaard shot on target, xG 0.3, post shot xG 0.23. This is a one-one-one of close to it and some good keeping from Ramsdale to get quick off of his line and close down the angle. He makes a good save here.

Tottenham (Home):

Shots on target faced: 3

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 1.1

Overall this is as expected, he makes a pretty good save, doesn’t save a penalty, and then an expected save. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Richarlison shot on target, xG 0.45, post shot xG 0.12. This is a big chance from a set play, Richarlison on the stretch can’t really place it into the corners and it is pretty softly hit right at Ramsdale. It also looked like it might have been offside but it didn’t get the lines drawn because it was saved.

Harry Kane goal (penalty), xG 0.79, post shot xG 0.91. A penalty where Kane goes down the middle and Ramsdale dives. Someday he will save one but it doesn’t seem to be his strength right now.

Harry Kane shot on target, xG 0.11, post shot xG 0.08. A pretty weak header right at Ramsdale and a pretty easy save.

Liverpool (Home):

Shots on target faced: 3

Goals Allowed: 2

Post Shot xG: 0.9

Overall this is kind of a tough one to rate, he makes one save you expect, has one goal that he can’t do too much on and one that I think he can do better on. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Darwin Núñez shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.02. This is from wide and a tough angle. It is right at him and a pretty comfortable save.

Darwin Núñez goal, xG 0.47, post shot xG 0.3. The ball from Luis Díaz is perfect and Núñez takes this first time with Ramsdale having a ton of goal to cover with little time to react. Not much he can do on it.

Roberto Firmino goal, xG 0.34, post shot xG 0.62. I am a bit surprised how high this is rated on post shot xG, it does go into the corner but it is from a kind of tight angle where the keeper should be able to dive and cover both corners. I am not an expert but maybe he is off his line a touch too far and he doesn’t have the time to cover the distance required.

Leeds (Away):

Shots on target faced: 4

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 1.3

Overall one of Ramsdale’s best performances of the season, he makes 3 good saves here and one that you would expect. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 9 out of 10 in this match.

Pascal Struijk shot on target, xG 0.21, post shot xG 0.5. From a scramble after a corner kick, this one is headed for the corner but it wasn’t hit hard and Ramsdale does really well to get down and keep it out.

Patrick Bamford shot on target, xG 0.15, post shot xG 0.44. William Saliba makes a mistake with a heavy first touch and Bamford intercepts with an open one-on-one with Ramsdale. Ramsdale does really well to wait and not overcommit to diving so Bamford can’t just go around him, nor do the easy chip. This is really good goalkeeping.

Patrick Bamford shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.27. Another one-on-one with Bamford where Ramsdale does excellent to not give an easy option and ends up making a save on the stabbed shot.

Brenden Aaronson shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.09. Long range shot that ends up in a pretty comfortable position to be saved.

Southampton (Away):

Shots on target faced: 3

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 0.7

Overall a slightly disappointing performance, he makes two routine saves and then is beaten by a pretty soft goal that isn’t in the corner. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 4.5 out of 10 in this match.

Lyanco shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.07. A shot from way out and from not a great angle, that is an easy save.

Stuart Armstrong goal, xG 0.3, post shot xG 0.55. The pass that sets up this shot is really good but I bet Ramsdale wishes he could do better on this one. The shot is taken first time so maybe that throws him off but it is hit really soft and it is not particularly in the corner but he can’t quite get his foot to it.

Joe Aribo shot on target, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.06. A not particularly good angle, through a bunch of bodies where he ends up going right at the keeper. Ends up a pretty easy save.

Nottingham Forest (Home):

Shots on target faced: 2

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.1

Overall a very easy performance, he sees two shots on target here, both right at him and both caught with no problem. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Remo Freuler shot on target, xG 0.04, post shot xG 0.10. A shot from long distance and straight at Ramsdale. Nice and easy.

Neco Williams shot on target, xG 0.04, post shot xG 0.03. Another long shot, this time from a worse angle and it is also right at Ramsdale. Nice and easy.

Chelsea (Away):

Shots on target faced: 1

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.1

Overall a pretty easy performance in one of Arsenal’s best overall defensive matches, he only has just the one shot on target here and it is handled with no problem. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Kai Havertz shot on target, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.08. This one feels more like a cross than an actual shot, where Havertz is trying to find Aubameyang for the tap in but it ends up way too close to Ramsdale. This ends up as a pretty tame shot and and easy save.

Wolverhampton (Away):

Shots on target faced: 2

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.4

Overall a solid performance, he only has two shots on target here and neither requires a brilliant save from where they are put on target. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Gonçalo Guedes shot on target, xG 0.05, post shot xG 0.1. This is from a direct free kick and it is hit low and hard at the near post, but still pretty central from this angle. He moves forward quick and collects it with no fuss.

Daniel Podence shot on target, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.29. Gabriel is blocking off the far post so Podence goes to the near post with a slicing shot, it’s not super in the corner otherwise it might beat Ramsdale but he gets a good hand to this and makes the save.

Final Thoughts

Overall during this period, he comes out with an average rating for shot stopping of 6.2 out of 10 for me. He had two standout matches (Crystal Palace and Leeds) and two matches that were below expectations (Leicester City and Southampton) with the rest in the 6 or 7 out of 10 range.

After watching these shots again I think this rating is fair. He did well on several shots with some that left me hoping he could have done better. There weren’t really any howlers in here but there wasn’t really that many saves that a Premier League-level goal keeper couldn’t have also done and it makes sense that he basically matches his expectation over this period.

The next set of matches will continue this looking at the matches from West Ham on boxing day to Bournemouth at the beginning of March.