Aaron Ramsdale breaks down in tears at Arsenal gesture on return with Southampton

Aaron Ramsdale was visibly moved by the warm welcome he received from the Arsenal faithful on his return to Emirates Stadium with Southampton.

The Saturday afternoon Premier League fixture marked Ramsdale's first appearance since his move to Saints from the Gunners when the summer window closed, and there was a sense of anticipation regarding the reception he'd get in north London.

The love from the gathered Arsenal supporters was palpable as Ramsdale stepped out for the pre-match warm-up, receiving a rousing reception well ahead of the 3pm kick-off. Having made 89 appearances for Arsenal, Ramsdale's departure from the club only came about due to his desire for more playing time, after slipping behind David Raya in Mikel Arteta's pecking order.

Ramsdale faced a choice to continue with Arsenal potentially as a backup or seek more active playtime, even if it meant joining a team lower down in the standings, expressing his preference for play over medals in an interview with Football Focus before the game: "If I was sitting on the bench, it [winning a trophy] wouldn't have meant that much to me," he said.

"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 at Southampton."

The Saints' goalie proved his worth in the first half against his old team, notably stopping a sharp effort from Thomas Partey and quickly recovering to block the follow-up chance.

Arsenal struggled to break through in the first half, ending the period without a score despite their control of the game and numerous promising set pieces.

Ramsdale parted ways with Arsenal on amicable terms, as he revealed Arteta was supportive of his move. "What he did for me in my time at Arsenal, I can only thank him for, and he thanked me for my contribution [when leaving]," Ramsdale shared with talkSPORT.

"Not just myself but as a football club, getting back into the Champions League, pushing for a trophy. Ultimately, as managers do and top managers do, they have to make decisions which will upset people. He made that decision and we still speak."

Keen to start a new chapter, Ramsdale is also excited about the prospect of facing his old team: "I'm obviously looking forward to getting some games under my belt here and we have Arsenal in a few weeks which will be a nice return."