Gary Neville believes David Raya is beginning to really feel the strain as Arsenal’s goalkeeper after an error-strewn efficiency within the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Chelsea, whereas Jamie Redknapp says Mikel Arteta has “difficult a scenario he did not have to” by bringing in Raya to compete with Aaron Ramsdale.
Arsenal had seemed on target for his or her first defeat of the season when Raya was caught out by Mykhailo Mudryk’s mishit cross at the beginning of the second half. The previous Brentford goalkeeper additionally seemed underneath strain with the ball at his toes, simply as he did within the first half towards Manchester Metropolis earlier than the worldwide break.
Talking on commentary through the recreation at Stamford Bridge, Neville stated Raya seemed like a goalkeeper who wanted “assist” and believes the having each Raya and Ramsdale within the Arsenal squad competing for the No 1 shirt can not work.
Neville stated: “David Raya began his Arsenal profession effectively however then he had a poor Champions League recreation [against Lens] adopted by that first half towards Manchester Metropolis.
“Now, this recreation. It is getting scorching for him. He is obtained that look on his face like, ‘assist’.
“It is the hardest place to play and definitely once you’re at one of many largest golf equipment within the league, you are underneath essentially the most quantity of scrutiny – notably should you’re a goalkeeper.
“Mikel Arteta has created that, let’s be clear with the Ramsdale and Raya scenario. It is uncommon however he says it could possibly work.
“I’ve by no means believed it may, and I imagine we’re seeing in entrance of our eyes the challenges that exists as a result of now, there’s going to be strain.
“Aaron Ramsdale hadn’t achieved rather a lot mistaken at the beginning of the season. Raya has now began to make errors.”
‘Raya seems a bag of nerves’
In the meantime, Redknapp believes Arteta has created a scenario he did not have to along with his goalkeepers and says Ramsdale, who was absent from Arsenal’s squad for the journey to Chelsea after the delivery of his son, ought to keep and struggle for his place on the Emirates Stadium.
Redknapp stated: “Raya is now going to return underneath a whole lot of scrutiny. There is not any doubt that Mudryk desires to cross it for his aim. When you have a look at Raya’s positioning earlier than the cross that may be a David Raya place. It’s extremely aggressive. Usually, I might need my goalkeeper two yards additional again simply to be sure you do not get caught with the lob.
“However he is seeking to be aggressive and on the entrance foot. I believe it is a unhealthy place. So much goes to be stated about Aaron Ramsdale now, however I really assume you need to neglect about Ramsdale for a second… what’s occurred with this example is that it is made [Raya] look worse.
He added: “He seems like a bag of nerves proper now. Raya is admittedly combating the strain and the scrutiny he is underneath. He is giving the ball away, he is trying like he is at all times going to concede objectives. The scenario hasn’t helped him.
“Folks have stated that Aaron Ramsdale ought to think about leaving, however I disagree. I believe he ought to cling in there given the way in which Raya has given away so many objectives. He isn’t displaying that he is ok to be No 1.
“Mikel Arteta has difficult a scenario that he actually did not have to.”
Ramsdale: Focus on goalkeeping battle with Raya is strange
“There’s a whole lot of consideration and it is a place which is famously stated; ‘should you’re not spoken about means you’ve got achieved a very good job’, and there is a whole lot of speak on the minute.
“Whether or not it’s me or David who performs we want to have the ability to simply focus and play however on the similar time, it is a unusual, massive headline… we’ve to take care of it and that’s what we’re doing.”