Mikel Arteta has praised Aaron Ramsdale for his attitude at Arsenal after the goalkeeper’s father said his son had ‘lost his smile’ after being dropped.

Ramsdale was taken aback by Arsenal’s summer loan signing of David Raya from Brentford, even though it’s been reported that the Gunners have already decided to pay £27 million to make the agreement permanent.

During the international break, Nick Ramsdale, the father of the player, questioned why his son was given a new contract in May when the intention was to sign Raya three months later and chastised Arteta for how he handled the goalkeeping position at Arsenal.

‘If Mikel Arteta wanted David Raya first of all then that’s factual, that’s true. My only problem is when I spoke to Mr Arteta on the phone before he signed Aaron, he said he wanted Aaron,’ Nick Ramsdale said.

‘But now, you know, David Raya’s back on the market and he’s had David Raya. He will be bought [after his loan].

‘Aaron’s only just signed a new contract of four years, or three years with an option of 12 months, so I don’t know [where that leaves him]. Why would you extend a goalkeeper, or any player’s contract, and then two months later, or three months later [sign another goalkeeper?].

‘We did not have a clue, I did not have a clue, our family did not have a clue, Aaron did not have a clue that he was not going to be carrying on playing. All of a sudden he’s not been played.’

When asked about the comments from Ramsdale’s father, Arteta said: ‘Aaron, and any player who is playing less than he wanted, there are many unfortunately in a dressing room of 24 players, their behaviour that we demand and we expect is to constantly challenge and make each other better, and always have the purpose and ability to overcome the situation and play and show with facts that you have to play, and you have to play more and how wrong I am and [think] ‘how can I help the team when it is necessary?’.

‘Aaron has had that attitude every day since I have been here.’

Asked if he believes Ramsdale could be rusty against Brentford this weekend due to his lack of playing time, Arteta replied: ‘He played a few weeks ago, I don’t expect it. Like I don’t with any other player.

‘The way they [Brentford] play, they attack with a lot of numbers in the box and we know the threat they are on set plays and with their direct plays.

‘Threats can come from different ways, they’re a good side, extremely well coached, they are a big threat in the opponent’s box.’