Premier League: Aaron Ramsdale needs to fight for his place in Arsenal, says goalkeeper David Raya

David Raya, the Spanish goalkeeper currently on loan from Brentford to Arsenal, has recently made headlines with his comments about fellow goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Raya stated that if Ramsdale, who was dropped from two consecutive games, wishes to return to Arsenal’s lineup, he must be prepared to “fight for the team”. This decision to bench Ramsdale, a 25-year-old England international, was made by Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, who aims to have “two top players for each position” in the team.

Ramsdale was notably absent from the team during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park and their Champions League home game against PSV Eindhoven. The latter match marked Arsenal’s triumphant return to Europe’s premier club competition after a six-year hiatus, with the Gunners delivering a ruthless 4-0 defeat to PSV.

Arteta has previously downplayed the significance of his decision to favour Raya over Ramsdale, despite it being a rare move in football to change a goalkeeper mid-game for tactical reasons. However, Raya has embraced this opportunity, stating that it is not his choice but Arteta’s to promote him to the starting lineup. He further emphasised that if Ramsdale were to return, he must be ready to fight for the team and secure victories.

Raya’s performance in the Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven was commendable, contributing to Arsenal’s decisive 4-0 win. His skills were on full display as he helped keep the opposition scoreless, demonstrating why Arteta had chosen him for the starting lineup.

Looking ahead, Arsenal are set to face London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the league on Sunday, followed by a trip to Brentford for the EFL Cup on Wednesday. As for who will start as goalkeeper in these upcoming matches, Raya admits that he is unsure whether it will be him or Ramsdale.

Currently, Arsenal is performing well in the league, holding the fourth position with 13 points from five matches. They are on par with Liverpool and Spurs, who are placed third and second respectively, but have a superior goal difference.

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