Aaron Ramsdale breaks down in tears as Arsenal fans welcome their former No 1 goalkeeper back to the Emirates with a warm reception ahead of clash with Southampton

Aaron Ramsdale was moved to tears after being given a rapturous reception from Arsenal supporters after making his first return to the Emirates on Saturday.

The goalkeeper joined Southampton on a permanent £25million deal during the summer, bringing his three-year stay in north London to an end. 

Ramsdale made 89 appearances in total for the Gunners but left in search of more game time after falling behind David Raya in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. 

However, he remains a firm favourite at his former club and the stopper was unable to hold back the waterworks during the warm-ups ahead of kick-off.

After being treated to widespread applause and chants, a visibly emotional Ramsdale was pictured using his gloves to wipe away tears.

The goalkeeper dried his eyes with his gloves ahead of Southampton’s game at the Emirates

Ramsdale brought an end to his three-year stay at the club in search of more game time

He then flashed a thumbs-up and a cheeky wink at the crowd.

Formerly of Bournemouth and Sheffield United, Ramsdale played just six Premier League games last season but has been ever present for the Saints this term.

Indeed, the 26-year-old has started all five of Southampton’s top-flight fixtures.

Ramsdale said he made the move down to the south coast because he had no desire to ‘win trophies if I was sitting on the bench.’

‘If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn’t have meant that much to me,’ he told the BBC’s Football Focus show.

‘I just wanted to play football. As a kid I wanted to play football to play, not to just sit on a bench. Getting out and playing was my aim so I’m lucky I found myself here.’

Ramsdale made just a handful of appearances last season before moving in a £25million deal

Mikel Arteta said Ramsdale won the ‘respect and admiration’ of his former team-mates

Arteta revealed he had called Ramsdale after his transfer was agreed and hailed him for winning the ‘respect and admiration’ from his staff and team-mates.

‘He is a player that we loved a lot, very charismatic and he really put his fingerprints here on the club with the way that he was,’ Arteta said. ‘It’ll be very good to see him. 

‘I was very grateful for what he did. When we signed there was a lot of noise around him. We helped him to create an environment that he needed because we believed in his potential and he showed it. He won the respect and admiration of all of us. 

‘Then the circumstances changed because this is elite sport and that can happen. It was difficult to deal with that situation in a natural way so we decided to part ways and hopefully he is grateful.’