Ramsdale, 26, completed a deadline day departure from Arsenal after spending three years with the Gunners, the first two of which were a success. But after Arteta brought in Brentford goalkeeper David Raya last summer and made the Spaniard his No.1, Ramsdale found himself on the bench and limited to domestic cup appearances.
It was a ruthless decision from the Arsenal manager but one which has paid off thanks to Raya's standout performances. Having been set for another season spent mostly watching from the sidelines, Ramsdale decided that his time in north London was up and has headed to the south coast, signing a four-year contract with newly-promoted Southampton.
The England international then posted a goodbye message on Instagram, thanking Arsenal's fans and his now former team-mates but not Arteta. "To my Arsenal family," Ramsdale began. "From the moment I arrived, I felt like one of you.
"All I ever wanted to do was give my all and try to get the club back to where it belongs. The connection that we had will stay with me forever. This is a special football club that has come a long way in a short space of time and it has been a privilege to share so many great moments with you. I look forward to returning soon, seeing some familiar faces and reminiscing on good times!
"Thank you to all of my team-mates for going to battle with me; we certainly gave it a good go and had some fun. Finally, and most of all, thank you to the Gunners for always being behind me! I will love you forever. See you soon, Rambo."
In a press conference conducted shortly after Ramsdale's departure was confirmed, Arteta wished him well. "Thank you so much for what he's done for the club, for the team and for myself," Arteta said, having signed Ramsdale for £26m from relegated Sheffield United in 2021.
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"He brought a lot of joy and charisma and was really good when he joined. He had a situation that was really good for him. He insisted that he's really joyful when he plays and we tried to arrange that."
Arsenal have moved quickly to replace Ramsdale, agreeing a deal with Bournemouth to loan goalkeeper Neto for the season. The 35-year-old Brazilian, formerly of Juventus, Valencia and Barcelona, is undergoing a medical as the clock ticks towards the 11pm deadline.
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