Exclusive: Aaron Ramsdale thrilled to welcome 'top player' Declan Rice to Arsenal, hails Kai Havertz signing

Aaron Ramsdale has told TNT Sports he is excited about welcoming summer signings Kai Havertz and Declan Rice to Arsenal, and feels both players will help lift the ambitious Gunners following last season's title challenge.

Havertz was bought from Chelsea for around £65 million while Rice became a new British-record signing following a £105m switch from West Ham.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports as Arsenal gear up for their Premier League and Champions League campaign, goalkeeper Ramsdale was full of praise for the new additions. Arsenal open their Premier League season against Nottingham Forest live on TNT Sports on August 12.

The 25-year-old, who plays with Rice for England, also believes the midfielder’s personality will be ideal for the Arsenal changing room.

“Energy on and off [the pitch],” he told TNT Sports when asked what Rice will bring to the club. “He's a loud character, loves to make people smile and laugh, and I think it'll be good because we can bounce off each other, you know, [we are] both quite loud personalities.

“On the pitch, technically, he's a top player. He's going to be full of excitement and pride to sign for this football club.

“He’s left West Ham with great experiences and he's going to come to us and try to lift us.

“So, you know, he's going to be a top player.”

Arsenal produced something of a surprise last season as they mounted an impressive title challenge for the majority of the campaign, albeit falling just short in the final weeks.

Manager Mikel Arteta has set about trying to make sure his side can go one better this time around with the reinforcements of Rice and Havertz.

But despite scoring the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, Germany international Havertz had something of an indifferent spell in his three years at the west London club.

However, Ramsdale believes the 24-year-old has all the attributes, physical and mental, to succeed at the Emirates and is thrilled at the prospect of seeing Havertz in red and white. Havertz played regularly in attack for Chelsea but was described as a midfielder when announced by Arsenal.

“He is very versatile,” Ramsdale said. “I think I've played against him a couple of times where he's played No. 9, No. 10, off the right, and in midfield, so he's someone who's going to bring a lot of quality.

“He will bring a lot of experience as well; he scored the winner in the Champions League final, [he has] caps for Germany, and he was captain of Leverkusen when he was coming up.

“He's going to bring a lot of quality to our team and I'm looking forward to it.

“I also think he's got a little bit about him as well. A little bit feisty. He's not going to be shying away and he'll be protecting his team-mates. When we played against Chelsea in the past he would always be there looking after his own.

“I'm looking forward to having him on my team”.

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