Arsenal: Southgate explains why Aaron Ramsdale is in England squad & why Saka wasn’t rested

England boss Gareth Southgate has recently been discussing the two Arsenal players named in his latest squad.

England return to action

The latest international break of the season is nearly upon us.

England are set to play out two World Cup qualifying matches during this period.

Gareth Southgate and co. will begin their qualifying action for October on Saturday the 9^th with an away game vs Andorra, who are 5^th in Group I and have amassed just three points from six outings.

England then face a tougher test vs Hungary on the 12^th of October.

Here is England’s squad for said qualifiers:

Confirming your #ThreeLions squad for October! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nY96EqnmpL

— England (@England) September 30, 2021

Southgate on Saka and Aaron Ramsdale

There are a couple of noticeable changes in the side. Firstly, Aaron Ramsdale has kept his place over Burnley’s Nick Pope.

Southgate would bd asked about this recently, pointing to Ramsdale’s better form on how he has coped with his move to Arsenal of late as some of the key reasons Ramsdale is in the squad:

“Aaron was with us all summer so we had an opportunity to work with him for a long period of time and get to understand his strengths. Nick is still coming back from the injury he had a little bit and Aaron is just in a better vein of form at the moment.

“I think the move to a club with high expectation, a style where he is asked to build with his feet from the back, with which he is coping with really well, is an important factor for us when I look at the biggest matches in particular. He has really adapted well to that move. His performances this season have been full of confidence.”

Southgate was also drawn on why Saka was not one of the young players rested this month.

Mason Greenwood and Jude Bellingham both missed out on the squad with Southgate looking to manage their workload.

However, Southgate explained Saka did not miss out due to him not having any European football this year:

“Bukayo has no European football this year. So he has a different training and playing load to the other two boys and also each situation is different.”

Asked Southgate why Saka was not one of the young players rested from his squad this time round:

“Bukayo has no European football this year.
So he has a different training and playing load to the other two boys and also each situation is different.”

— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) October 1, 2021

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