When Mikel Arteta signed David Raya in the summer, many were left questioning the Arsenal boss.
In truth, it’s a situation Arteta has been in before because he has made some ruthless calls during his tenure that have raised eyebrows.
From keeping Granit Xhaka on board when he had just been stripped of the captain’s armband under Unai Emery to booting out Mesut Ozil without a care in the world.
Fast forward to the present and Arsenal have benefited from all those calls, as they push to win the Premier League title and the Champions League.
With David Raya coming in from Brentford on a loan deal, it meant that Aaron Ramsdale, who hadn’t done much wrong last season, was told to park his backside on the bench.
As mentioned above, many were questioning that move, but as Tim Sherwood stated, ‘they aren’t asking them questions now’, as he told Premier League Productions (07/04/24 at 2:35 pm).
The former title-winner added that, if you asked the Arsenal players, they are ‘happier’ playing in front of Raya than Ramsdale, even though they wouldn’t admit it publicly.
David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale
“I don’t think the goalkeeper gets enough credit,” said Sherwood. “There was a lot of noise around the goalkeeper, whether it was Raya or Ramsdale. They aren’t asking them questions now.
“They aren’t asking them questions because they are showing he is better. He is better than him, more of a calming influence and he uses the ball better with his feet.
“I think, if you asked the players in front, as much as they won’t come out and publicly and say it, they are far happier now that they have got Raya behind them than Ramsdale. I don’t think Ramsdale is a bad goalkeeper, I think he is a very good, but Mikel (Arteta) has got that shout right as well.”
Aaron Ramsdale needs to leave Arsenal
It’s the ruthless nature of the game. When Ramsdale first arrived at Arsenal in 2021, he proceeded to bench Bernd Leno.
The German had no choice, but to leave and join Fulham, where things are going very well for him, but you feel Ramsdale will have to follow suit.
Sources have told HITC that Chelsea are looking at bringing Ramsdale in, so that is one to watch out for.
Whether it’s Chelsea, or perhaps a move abroad, Ramsdale can’t afford to warm Arsenal’s bench anymore.
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