Aaron Ramsdale v David Raya: Kieran Gibbs reacts to Arsenal transfer rumour

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Kieran Gibbs says he ‘isn’t surprised’ that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal want to sign Brentford goalkeeper, David Raya.

The former Arsenal player thinks David Raya’s possible arrival will provide some much-needed competition to the goalkeeping department at the Premier League title hopefuls.

Aaron Ramsdale is the number one, but Gibbs doesn’t think he can play out from the back like the Spain international.

The one big plus for the Gunners is that Raya is open to moving to the Emirates, and if he does, then Gibbs thinks it will ‘please’ the manager in the dugout, as he told ESPN.

It was Arteta himself who brought Ramsdale to London following Bournemouth’s relegation to 2021 – he ended up replacing Bernd Leno in between the sticks.

Well, he is set to enhance that part of the pitch again, with Gibbs sharing why it’s the right move by his former club.

“I’m not surprised by Arsenal moving in for him,” said Gibbs. “They are going to be competing on all fronts next season. You need two goalkeepers, it’s as simple as that.

“I think he brings something a little different to Aaron. It will force Aaron to continue to improve certain areas that he knows he can work on. There might be some games that he can play in, maybe Champions League games.

“When you are in European football, it’s really good to have a goalkeeper that is really good with his feet. Not saying Aaron isn’t it. But I think that’s one of David’s specialities. I think having those two goalkeepers that would please Mikel a lot.”

Raya v Ramsdale

Arsenal are trying to reach the very top level and in order to do that you need the competition and pressure inside your own four walls.

This possible transfer provides that in bucket loads – former Premier League striker, Stan Collymore, told Caught Offside that the ‘top-class’ Raya needs to sign for Arsenal.

If someone like Ramsdale ends up buckling under it all, then it will just prove that he doesn’t have the character to take the club to the next level and Arteta will then be proven right with this Raya call.