Ian Wright says he finds it ‘very interesting’ that Mikel Arteta was ‘upset’ that he didn’t go ahead with wanting to substitute his goalkeepers during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park.
It was coming and it happened. Mikel Arteta dropped Aaron Ramsdale to the bench yesterday, with David Raya starting in between the sticks for his Arsenal debut – Alan Shearer shared his thoughts.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright praised Mikel Arteta for being ‘brave’ enough to make such calls and openly talk about how he even wanted to change it during the game, as he told Premier League Productions (18/09/23 at 2:30 pm).
Whilst fans debate. Who is now the club’s new number one? It seems as though there are two number ones, well, in Arteta’s mind, anyway.
The Champions League returns this week, with PSV visiting the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, before the north London derby on Sunday.
And it wouldn’t be a surprise if Arteta is rotating his goalkeepers during both of those matches.
Who is Arsenal’s number one?
“There is going to be enough games this season for him to switch it around,” said Wright. “I thought it was very interesting him saying that he felt upset about the fact that, during the game, he wanted to maybe change the goalkeeper and he didn’t do it. And he was upset that he didn’t go through with it.
“I think in Mikel Arteta’s mind, it’s fair game, to have two goalkeepers of number one stature – what I like about is that he is brave enough to say ‘I might do that’.
“You say about Aaron Ramsdale and how that is going to affect him. Ramsdale, as a number one, at a club of Arsenal’s stature, should always be thinking ‘this should happen’. They should now both push each other.
“I like the fact that he is thinking so out of the box in what he is trying to do, at the moment, to bridge the gap – they (Arsenal fans) will love him (Ramsdale) forever. He is such a wonderful guy. But the world Aaron Ramsdale is in, it’s elite. It’s something he will be able to deal with.”
No grey area with Ramsdale and Raya
This is black and white. This will either work or go horribly wrong, there is no grey area here.
Ever since Arteta became Arsenal’s manager, he has made some very big, and at times, ruthless calls.
From Mesut Ozil to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but in terms of on the pitch, this could be his biggest and boldest move yet.
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