'MY ENGLAND HOPES REST ON ME BEING ARSENAL No1'

GOALKEEPER RAMSDALE HAS A FIGHT ON TWO FRONTS

- Dan Kilpatrick

AARON RAMSDALE has admitted that he needs to get back the Arsenal No1 spot to keep his England chances alive - and says the intense focus on his situation this season has been difficult to manage.

The goalkeeper's only appearance since early September came in Arsenal's Carabao Cup tie at Brentford, with summer signing David Raya playing the past six games in the Premier League and Champions League.

Ramsdale was part of Gareth Southgate's England squad for the Australia friendly and Tuesday's qualifying win over Italy, which booked their place at next summer's European Championship, but did not feature in either game.

Sam Johnstone started the win over the Socceroos when No1 Jordan Pickford was rested.

Asked if his lack of minutes at Arsenal was a concern, Ramsdale said: "Yeah, of course. It is the first time I have found myself in this situation. The [England] manager is brilliant, he trusts the players he's worked with before. Kalvin [Phillips] and Harry [Maguire] haven't played the most amount of minutes, but when they step up for England and are given the opportunity, they perform.