25 November 2023 , 18:54
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Jamie Carragher has launched a passionate defence of Mikel Arteta’s contentious approach to Arsenal’s goalkeepers following criticism from Rio Ferdinand.
Arteta said in August that there are “no number ones” in his squad after signing David Raya on loan to compete with Aaron Ramsdale in goal. He said: “When you have to be at 100 per cent every day, believe me, your level increases. We have two great goalkeepers, just like we have two great left wingers, two great holding midfielders, two great strikers. There is no number one, not in any position.”
His approach goes against the norm of having a clear first-choice goalkeeper and a back-up, although Raya has started the majority of matches over the past few months. But with Raya ineligible to face his parent club Brentford on Saturday evening, Ramsdale was handed a chance to stake his claim.
Ramsdale did not make the most of it, gifting Brentford a fantastic chance with a slip in the opening stages. He was then taunted by the home fans, who chanted You're just a s**t David Raya" at him throughout the Premier League game.
Before kick-off, Rio Ferdinand voiced his opinion that Arteta had put Ramsdale in a difficult position unnecessarily by not clarifying his standing. But Carragher has rubbished that theory, believing that the Raya signing is similar to when he brought in Ramsdale to compete with Bernd Leno.
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“[The] ‘Arteta has created this pressure on his keepers’ narrative is nonsense!!!!!” he tweeted. “Arteta should improve on his goalkeeper if he feels it’s right, is he supposed to sell the other one the same day. He did it with Ramsdale/Leno. There is no battle to be number one, Raya is the number one!!”
Aaron Ramsdale was taunted by the Brentford fans (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Mikel Arteta's approach to Arsenal's goalkeepers? Comment below.
Ferdinand clearly disagrees. "I don't think today matters, whatever happens he'll be the number two goalkeeper at Arsenal," he said on TNT Sports. "It doesn't matter what the manager says publicly, I don't think Raya's position is under threat at all. He obviously thinks Raya gives them something else, and I think you look at Ramsdale, he's been left in limbo because the manager hasn't come out and said who his number one and number two definitively are.
"It's a bit like Joe Hart for City, Pep Guardiola comes in and tells him he's not the No.1 anymore. Yes, that puts Joe's nose out of joint for a while but at least he knows where he stands. It's a difficult place to be for Ramsdale. Goalkeepers are different to outfield players. You can't treat them the same, there shouldn't be rotation because as a goalkeeper, you have to know that I'm No.1, he's No.2."