Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been blamed for David Raya’s struggles in goal. Former Gunners winger Perry Groves says Arteta has put too much pressure on his Spanish compatriot after bringing him in to replace Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal signed Raya on an initial loan from Brentford in August. Many questioned the transfer and wondered what it meant for Ramsdale’s future as No 1.
Arteta drafted Raya in for the Premier League match away to Everton after the international break in September. He has started every league game since, as well as the two Champions League group-stage matches.
But he put in a couple of shaky performances before making a huge error in Saturday’s draw at Chelsea. Raya allowed a Mykhaylo Mudryk cross to loop over his head and double the Blues’ lead.
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His distribution was also poor, with a sloppy back boss gifting Cole Palmer a great opportunity to make it 3-0. Raya made up for his error but Arsenal fans immediately sang Ramsdale’s name to show which corner they were in.
Groves says Arteta’s decision to pick Raya over Ramsdale, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season, created a whole heap of pressure on the 28-year-old. He said on talkSPORT: “I think it’s a bit of panic. I think in the first half against Man City at the Emirates there was a nervousness around the whole stadium when the ball came back to him.
“Yeah absolutely [Arteta has put on pressure] because obviously when David Raya came he said he’s got two No 1s, which you very rarely have, you knew full well that David Raya was going to be his No 1.
“Aaron Ramsdale hadn’t made a mistake, he hadn’t done anything wrong. So then that puts the [pressure on].
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“I think Everton was the first game away, wasn’t it, and he kept a clean sheet. But you do put the goalkeeper under miles more pressure and I’m just looking at Mikel Arteta and it will be interesting to see what he does.
“As I said before he said he was going to treat the goalkeepers the same as outfield players and in the last two games, David Raya’s been poor.”
Ramsdale missed the trip to Chelsea due to the birth of his first child. Arteta was diplomatic when asked about the fans’ chants.
He said: “Great, I love [Ramsdale], I will sing as well for him, every single day we’ve sung a lot for him, yesterday because he was a father, the most beautiful thing to do and he’s someone who has this charisma and personality and is very loved around the team.”
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