Arsenal central defender William Saliba has praised David Raya for his performance against Sean Dyche’s Everton at Goodison Park this past weekend.
Raya, who joined Arsenal in the summer transfer window, made his debut in the starting lineup as manager Mikel Arteta decided to drop Aaron Ramsdale, the Gunners’ number one goalkeeper.
Raya has taken to Instagram to express his delight at making his debut for Arsenal. Consequently, defender William Saliba and Brentford attacker Ivan Toney praised him. The goalkeeper did not have much to do against Everton. However, he raised his game when he had to and was very good with his distribution.
Ramsdale’s Uncertain Future
Ramsdale, 25, quickly established himself as Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper after joining the club from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021. However, Raya appears to be Arsenal’s preference for the foreseeable future, and this has raised questions about Ramsdale’s role in the team.
The Mail reports that Premier League rivals Chelsea and Bayern Munich are monitoring Ramsdale’s situation. Chelsea, despite signing Robert Sanchez, sees Ramsdale as an upgrade, while Bayern seeks a replacement for Manuel Neuer.
Regular Rotation for Ramsdale & David Raya?
Arteta hinted that he may continue to rotate goalkeepers, indicating that Ramsdale may no longer be the undisputed No.1. Nevertheless, this decision even drew criticism from renowned Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, who questioned the move on social media.
Morgan stated,
“I don’t understand what Ramsdale has done to deserve being dropped. Has any team ever won the League by rotating two top goalkeepers?”
Ramsdale himself had welcomed competition when Raya’s arrival was imminent, stating,
“Nothing comes easy in football…we’ll make each other the best version of ourselves because that’s what the manager is telling us as well.”
However, the reality of sitting on the bench may be different from his initial optimism.
As it stands, Ramsdale has not expressed public frustration with the situation. The upcoming UEFA Champions League match and future Premier League fixtures will be telling in terms of Arteta’s goalkeeping choices.
While competition can drive players to improve, it can also introduce instability and uncertainty. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Mikel Arteta’s decisions and their impact on the team’s performance and future.
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