Examining Aaron Ramsdale: Part 3

Looking at and rating all the shots faced by Ramsdale from Boxing Day through Bournemouth at home.

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

In part 2, we started the path of looking at all the shots Ramsdale has faced this season through the World Cup break.

We will continue to look at how his shot-stopping has looked this season by going through all of the shots that he has faced this season, with the matches from Boing Day until . Taking a look at the context around the shot from the video and the ratings (from Opta via FBRef) for the shot.

West Ham (Home):

Shots on target faced: 4

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 1.3

Overall a solid performance, he makes the saves you expect and they were not all super easy, the one goal is a penalty and he goes the wrong way on it. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6.5 out of 10 in this match.

Saïd Benrahma shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.11. From a corner, so there are lots of bodies in the way, this one is hit pretty close to straight at Ramsdale and not particularly hard. A nice easy save.

Saïd Benrahma goal (penalty), xG 0.79, post shot xG 0.9.

Michail Antonio shot on target, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.09. Antonio has more open space early on this but Gabriel does really well to close this down making this a tough shot from a tight angle. He goes high and near post and Ramsdale has it covered.

Pablo Fornals shot on target, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.22. Shot from distance but it seems to be in a pretty good location to force a save from Ramsdale. It isn’t hit with too much power and Ramsdale is able to get a hand to it. A pretty good (if expected) save.

Brighton (Away):

Shots on target faced: 5

Goals Allowed: 2

Post Shot xG: 2.2

Overall a decent performance, he makes a couple saves you expect, has little chance on one goal and is maybe a bit too aggressive on the second goal (but it was already a mess before it got to him). On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match, making the saves you expect but also helping possibly making one goal easier than it should have been.

Leandro Trossard shot on target, xG 0.11, post shot xG 0.3. On the video it doesn’t look like Ramsdale is fully ready for the shot, with him leaning trying to get a view of what is happening. Thankfully Trossard shoots right at him and he can make the save.

Kaoru Mitoma goal, xG 0.34, post shot xG 0.92. This is a great finish from Mitoma, he is slipped in and while it is a good chance it isn’t exactly easy given the pressure Saka is putting him under. Not sure Ramsdale can do much as this kisses the post as it goes in.

Evan Ferguson goal, xG 0.2, post shot xG 0.79. Arsenal make a massive mess out of this one, Saliba has a chance to clear it early but can’t, it bounces around and falls to Ferguson with Ramsdale looking to come out. The shot ends up slipping through his legs. Maybe Ramsdale should be a little slower to come out with his defender still with him.

Evan Ferguson shot on target, xG 0.06, post shot xG 0.13. Shot from distance right at him, makes the save you expect.

Newcastle (Away):

Shots on target faced: 1

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.3

Overall a quiet day, he makes the one save he is asked to do and it is a pretty routine shot. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match, doesn’t have a lot to do but does it just fine.

Callum Wilson shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.29. A shot from way out and one that isn't particularly well struck, it maybe has a bit of added difficulty because it bounces off the wet grass but it’s a pretty easy save overall.

Tottenham (Home):

Shots on target faced: 7

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 2.5

Overall a very good day, he makes 7 saves of which 2 are one-on-ones which he does well on, plus a couple that are aimed at his corners. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 9 out of 10 in this match.

Son Heung-min shot on target, xG 0.35, post shot xG 0.76. A one-on-one for Son and Ramsdale reads the through ball well, quickly stealing a yard. Son aims for a low and hard shot to the far corner that Ramsdale does really well to spread and cover.

Harry Kane shot on target, xG 0.26, post shot xG 0.32. This is a glancing header aimed low and at the near post, it is a good job from Kane to direct this but it is also a save you hope your keeper is positioned well enough to take care of and Ramsdale is and does.

Harry Kane shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.24. From this distance and with a clear site you expect a keeper to be able to save this, I would worry slightly that it looks like Ramsdale is cheating ever so slightly to the far post but he does cover off that side and makes the save.

Ryan Sessegnon shot on target, xG 0.18, post shot xG 0.8. Another one-on-one, this time from a tighter angle and with more time to see the play develop. It looks like Ramsdale is in a good position here and Sessegnon goes for the hard shot low to the far post, it is a tight angle so I am a bit surprised this one is rated this high but Ramsdale makes a good kick save.

Harry Kane shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.26. This is a bizarre rating for this shot, way overrating how hard it is. This is a tough header that Kane gets no power on, if Ramsdale doesn’t catch it this ball is going to bounce softly to the ground at his feet. One of the easier saves Ramsdale has in this match.

Richarlison shot on target, xG 0.12, post shot xG 0.15. A shot from an okay location but with bodies in the way. It isn’t hit hard nor is it in the corner, a save you expect to be made and one that was.

Dejan Kulusevski shot on target, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.02. A shot from distance and it is basically right at Ramsdale who smothers it clean with no rebound.

Manchester United (Home):

Shots on target faced: 4

Goals Allowed: 2

Post Shot xG: 0.6

Overall fine, I think some of these chances are underrated, he makes two saves and both are pretty good ones with one a close deflection, for the goals he might expect to get closer on the first and then clear better on the second. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match.

Marcus Rashford goal, xG 0.05, post shot xG 0.26. That’s a hell of a shot from Rashford and the blame should go more on giving the ball away in a bad spot and then being dribbled past easily. It is hard to tell with certainty if Ramsdale should be shading more to his right where the shot ends up going in, I think you hope you’re keeper could do better on it but not a howler.

Scott McTominay shot on target, xG 0.06, post shot xG 0.2. McTominay tries to pass it into the top corner and maybe doesn’t get enough power to really trouble Rasmdale who anticipates and reads it well. A solid save.

Marcus Rashford shot on target, xG 0.0.9, post shot xG 0.03. This one on the video ends up looking a lot harder on video than in the metrics, it takes a deflection and bounces up on Ramsdale who does well to react to the change in trajectory.

Lisandro Martínez goal, xG 0.08, post shot xG 0.12. This is probably a close to zero percent save rate shots because Ramsdale is on the ground after trying to punch the initial ball into the box, if he comes out for it, you hope he gets better contact because otherwise something like this could happen (still a bit lucky that this makes it through all the bodies and into the goal).

Everton (Away):

Shots on target faced: 4

Goals Allowed: 1

Post Shot xG: 1.1

Overall fine, I think some of these chances are way overrated, he makes three saves and all would be expected to be saved from me, for the goal he probably should do better but it wasn’t a howler. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 5.5 out of 10 in this match.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin shot on target, xG 0.03, post shot xG 0.12. A tight angle with a good view, this is a shot you expect to get saved and it does.

Amadou Onana shot on target, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.4. The post-shot xG on this is WAAAAAAY off. This is an attempted lob from a volley at over 30 yards from goal. Ramsdale collects this pretty easy a few feet from his line.

James Tarkowski goal, xG 0.26, post shot xG 0.15. It’s hard to see from the screengrab here but Tarkowski gets a header in that scrum of players at the back post and then heads it across goal. In theory maybe Ramsdale would be more central to have a chance but in the end it’s a tough one to try and save.

Neal Maupay shot on target, xG 0.02, post shot xG 0.46. I had to switch to Arsenal.com for this video because it didn’t show on Wyscout. This shot was from waaaaay out and it was very tame. I have no idea how it ended up being rated as having nearly a 50/50 chance of being scored. Ramsdale has no problem with it, and I wouldn’t expect differently after watching.

Brentford (Home):

Shots on target faced: 2 (counting the offside)

Goals Allowed: 1 (counting the offside)

Post Shot xG: 1.0

Overall fine, really had one save to make and he did what was expected. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 6 out of 10 in this match because there was just the one “real” shot to face.

Ivan Toney shot on target, xG 0.04, post shot xG 0.27. A shot from way out that you expect the keeper to make and he does.

Ivan Toney goal, xG 0.96, post shot xG 0.72. This should have been offside and never counted as a shot or a goal. No blame for this at all. Still can’t believe they messed this up so badly, when there were it looked like there were two times offside and probably a foul too.

Manchester City (Home):

Shots on target faced: 5

Goals Allowed: 3

Post Shot xG: 1.3

Overall not the greatest day, he makes two saves one that you expect a keeper to make (and he spills it causing more issues) and one really good bit of goalkeeping. On the first goal he has no chance, on the other two there are questions to be asked. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 4.5 out of 10 in this match.

Kevin De Bruyne goal, xG 0.22, post shot xG 0.4. Ramsdale get’s put in a bad spot because of a bad Takehiro Tomiyasu pass but the finish here from De Bruyne is exceptional to lift it over him and keep it on target all from the first time bouncing back pass.

Rodri shot on target, xG 0.15, post shot xG 0.05. Rodri doesn’t get a ton of power on this shot and it lands in front of Ramsdale who actually perhaps should do better to smother it but it squirts away when it takes a high bounce, leading to a goal-line clearance being required.

Erling Haaland shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.09. Ramsdale is quick off his line to cut out the first-time shot and forces Haaland wide, from there he can’t find space and gets a weak shot off. Good goalkeeping here.

Jack Grealish goal, xG 0.09, post shot xG 0.04. This one where I am sure Ramsdale would say he should do better, and the numbers for this shot back it up. It is hit moderately hard but it’s pretty far out and he has a clear view of it. It maybe takes a little bounce where he it goes over his hand but it is still pretty much right at him and he’s in a good position. Not his best.

Erling Haaland goal, xG 0.11, post shot xG 0.69. This comes from a cut back and that explains why Ramsdale’s position is sucked towards the near post here. Maybe he should do better to shuffle central quicker to be able to have a chance at this one but he sort of takes a mini hop that doesn’t move him far enough or give him power to get down and across. It would have been a good save but he is perhaps let down a bit by his positioning.

Aston Villa (Away):

Shots on target faced: 5

Goals Allowed: 2

Post Shot xG: 0.8

Overall a decent showing, he makes a mistake on the first goal but doesn’t have much a chance on the second, he makes saves you expect and has a couple of saves that are big in the game state but were saves that you really want your keeper to make. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 7 out of 10 in this match.

Ollie Watkins goal, xG 0.08, post shot xG 0.14. I think on this goal his positioning absolutely lets him down, Ramsdale is stuck to the near post and can’t cover the shot that isn’t even that greatly placed across the face of the goal here. If he’s a half step better positioned I think he gets this one no problem.

Philippe Coutinho goal, xG 0.2, post shot xG 0.35. This shot gets deflected off of Gabriel and gives Ramsdale who had already committed to his left no chance as it goes the other way.

John McGinn shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.05. An easy save, the shot is from a long distance and not hit all that hard and right at Ramsdale.

Leon Bailey shot on target, xG 0.06, post shot xG 0.09. I remember watching this one live and thinking it was a really good save but I think it was more a reflection of how important it was for Arsenal to not lose. The shot is hit hard but it is from a fairly tight angle with White blocking further the far post. Bailey goes straight and hard at Ramsdale and nearly beats him. On reflection, this is a pretty good save but not spectacular like I thought at that time.

Jhon Durán shot on target, xG 0.05, post shot xG 0.22. From a very similar spot

Leicester City (Away):

Shots on target faced: 0

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 0.0

Didn’t have anything to do here, Arsenal gave up just one shot and it wasn’t on target.

Everton (Home):

Shots on target faced: 5

Goals Allowed: 0

Post Shot xG: 2.1

Overall he makes three saves you expect, makes a mess of a cross/shot and then recovers well to make a very good save. On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 7.5 out of 10 in this match.

Neal Maupay shot on target, xG 0.04, post shot xG 0.22. Ramsdale has plenty of time to see the shot and it is really comfortable given the rating here. A save that if he didn’t make I would have serious questions.

Neal Maupay shot on target, xG 0.44, post shot xG 0.8. The rating on this one seems disconnected to what I see, this is a cross that is behind Maupayand he tries a little back heel flick. The shot ends up with no power and is right at Ramsdale who gets down and collects with no problem.

Dwight McNeil shot on target, xG 0.05, post shot xG 0.11. The shot is from pretty far out and Ramsdale has a clear view, a save you expect him to make and he does.

Demarai Gray shot on target, xG 0.08, post shot xG 0.29. This is a cross/shot and one I am not sure actually is going in to the far post. Ramsdale probably should let it go past because Ben White is at the back post to clean up and clear if needed. He ends up parrying it into the feet of Davies.

Tom Davies shot on target, xG 0.35, post shot xG 0.89. He recovers nicely and is able to block off the near post, with White not allowing the ball to easily get into the far post. Davies doesn’t make great contact with White also contesting but this is a good save to keep the clean sheet.

Bournemouth (Home):

Shots on target faced: 4

Goals Allowed: 2

Post Shot xG: 1.5

Overall this is a decent match, he makes one amazing save and one ordinary save. He allows one goal that he doesn’t have much of a chance on and one where he probably should do better but it was still probably harder than the rating (or looked so on replay). On a shot-stopping basis, I would give him a 7.5 out of 10 in this match.

Philip Billing goal, xG 0.54, post shot xG 0.64. A tough one for Arsenal that really felt like a sucker punch. Some loose defending and unfortunate bounces leads to a huge chance and not all that much Ramsdale can do here.

Dango Ouattara shot on target, xG 0.54, post shot xG 0.74. This one thankfully runs across the box a bit more, making the angle slightly tougher. That being said Ramsdale makes a big dive and comes away with a save on what looked like a certain goal.

Marcos Senesi goal, xG 0.17, post shot xG 0.07. On this, I wonder if the rating model expects Ramsdale to be more central because this one comes in with a lot of speed making it a tough reaction save to have to make. He probably could have covered it distance wise but it ends up past him before he can react. I guess this is a maybe could have saved goal and he probably would expect himself to do better on it.

Dominic Solanke shot on target, xG 0.07, post shot xG 0.03. I am not sure if this is actually going into the goal because it is such a tight angle but Ramsdale does kick this one out with minimal fuss.

Final Thoughts

Overall during this period, he comes out with an average rating for shot stopping of 6.5 out of 10 for me. He had one standout match (Tottenham away) and one match that was below expectations (Manchester City home) with the rest in the 5.5 or 7.5 out of 10 range.

After watching these shots again I think this rating is fair. The pattern for him is starting to emerge for me, he is a very good one one one keeper but has some weakness in shot stopping in other situations. I think this makes sense for how he is rated too by fans, because the one on one situations are such high-leverage situations and ones that will show on highlights and in our memory they are more highly rated. The other goals conceded count the same tho and he still just lets in a few more than you would like in those situations but no so much that it is a major problem (but not a strength either).

The next set of matches will continue this looking at the final matches of the season from Fulham at home to Wolves on the final day of the season.