Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are currently third and first in the English Premier League and Group B of the UEFA Champions League, but the Spaniard is more worried about his controversial move to pick new summer signing David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale as the no. 1 goalkeeper to guard the goal of the Gunners in the league, domestic and continental cup matches. Just yesterday, Aaron Ramsdale’s father Nick decided to make his feelings known about his son’s situation at the 13-time English top-flight football winners and hit out on Arteta for his poor management at the goalkeeper department.
Aaron Ramsdale Played Only Seven Games for Arsenal This Season
Arsenal have played a total of 19 matches across four competitions of the Premier League, Champions League, EFL Cup as well as the FA Community Shield, and new signing on a loan deal from Brentford F.C. Raya have started in all but seven matches, much to former no. 1 at the club Aaron Ramsdale’s dismay. In light of this issue, Nick Ramsdale did not hold back when he was interviewed during the Highbury Squad podcast and heavily criticised Arteta’s way of managing his two starting calibre shot stoppers, highlighting that Arsenal should have a clear indicator on how much games each goalkeeper is going to play over the course of a season.
“We did not have a clue [Ramsdale was going to be dropped]. I didn’t have a clue, our family didn’t have a clue, Aaron didn’t have a clue that he was not going to carry on playing. All of a sudden, he’s not been played. You just have to look at it personally and I’m probably saying too much but: Aaron is going to be the cup goalkeeper, and David Raya is going to be the main man unless something happens, an injury or a sending-off. And Aaron’s got to live with that and he is living with that even though he’s not been told it. By anybody.
“Squads evolve all the time, nobody is going to be there forever. David Raya has not pulled up trees so far, let’s say he’s not going to. Even though the way it’s been done, in my eyes, it’s been wrong.”
Aaron Ramsdale vs David Raya.
Start one. Bench one. pic.twitter.com/CAjDq8CsIb
— WelBeast (@WelBeast) July 30, 2023
Nick Ramsdale: “He (Arteta) Said He Wanted Aaron.”
Aaron Ramsdale’s father Nick went on to explain further about what he thinks on the Ramsdale-Raya situation, that the Spanish goalkeeper is not at fault as he is only doing his job as a loanee from another club. But what the fury dad did not understand is Arteta‘s failure to hold onto his promise prior to the player’s signed contract extension to maintain him as an important and starting figure at the club.
“Aaron lost that smile. And it’s difficult to see him there. We all keep saying: ‘you need to keep smiling’. And at the moment in time, we haven’t got that smile in him. David Raya is a great goalkeeper and it’s not his fault. He’s just come in as a goalkeeper. It’s just like when Aaron came in and Bernd Leno was there. Aaron says Raya is a lovely guy and he works hard with him. Aaron is trying to help in as much as he can to settle in with the squad. It’s possibly the way it’s been done, not knowing the reason why.
“My only problem is when I spoke to Mr Arteta on the phone before he signed Aaron, he said he wanted Aaron. But now David Raya is back on the market and he had David Raya. I don’t know. Aaron has just signed a new deal with three or four years with an option for 12 months. This is honestly truthful, I’m not spinning the yarn. This is purely me: why would you extend a goalkeeper or any player’s contract and then two or three months later [make a move on someone else]?”
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Who Should Be the No. 1 for Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale or David Raya?
Nick Ramsdale’s frustrations over his son’s benching by Arteta is totally understandable, as the 25-year-old goalkeeper is trying to fight for a spot as the no. 1 shot stopper for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions as well. It would be impossible for Aaron Ramsdale to replace Jordan Pickford as England’s starting option to guard the goal at Germany next year should the Arsenal player continue to be benched by his Spanish head coach.
Tell us who do you think deserve to start at goal for the Gunners for the rest of this season down in the comment section below now!
