'Number one goalkeeper': Newcastle legend makes bold claim about 25-year-old replacement for Nick Pope

Former Newcastle United striker Andy Cole is convinced that Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale would be a better option than Nick Pope for the Magpies.

Pope has been out of action since December after suffering a badly dislocated shoulder in the 1-0 win against Manchester United at St James' Park.

Ramsdale, 25, has struggled to get consistent first team football under Mikel Arteta this season after the Gunners boss signed fellow Spaniard David Raya from Brentford.

The England international has made just six appearances in the Premier League this season. He didn't miss a minute of football in the 2022/23 campaign and had 14 clean sheets.

Image: Sky Sports

Cole backs Ramsdale at Newcastle

In an interview with Betfred, Cole was asked about Aaron Ramsdale's links to the Magpies.

He said: “Nine times out of 10, when a player moves to a different club, they’re meant to be their new club’s number one centre-forward, centre-half, goalkeeper or whatever it may be. If Aaron makes the move, he will be Newcastle’s number-one goalkeeper.

“I like how he goes about his business and he deserves to be treated with a bit more respect, so if he does move on from Arsenal, then he certainly would do a good job at Newcastle.”

Cole feels that Ramsdale has been "hard done by"

You have to admit, it does feel as if Ramsdale has been left out in the cold by Arteta. Last season he was brilliant, he kept Arsenal in the title fight for a long period of the seaosn.

“I think he’s been hard done by, I really do. Cole said.

He was so good for Arsenal last season and then all of a sudden, Arteta has gone out and got a new goalkeeper and initially claimed that he had two number ones, which was complete nonsense from day one.

The way he’s disregarded Ramsdale has been really disrespectful. He’s mugged him off basically.