Piers Morgan has criticized Mikel Arteta for what he perceives as the ‘humiliation’ of Aaron Ramsdale after the Arsenal manager chose to start David Raya over Ramsdale in the game against Everton.
In this match at Goodison Park, Raya, who was making his first start for Arsenal since his recent loan move from Brentford, played instead of Ramsdale.
The decision to bench Ramsdale and start Raya drew disapproval from Morgan, a passionate Arsenal supporter.
Morgan questioned the rationale behind dropping Ramsdale, who had been consistently performing well for the team. He expressed his confusion, suggesting that Ramsdale had not done anything to warrant being left out, especially considering his strong performances.
However, some observers felt this strategic move by Arteta was wise, especially in preparation for Arsenal’s forthcoming Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven.
Furthermore, Arteta maintained his decision to keep Eddie Nketiah as the starting forward, leaving Gabriel Jesus, a significant signing from the previous season, on the bench.
During the summer, Arsenal’s acquisition of a new goalkeeper sparked discussions, given Ramsdale’s commendable form and Raya’s impressive displays for Brentford.
Arteta, when asked about the goalkeeper change, refrained from confirming whether this signaled a permanent shift in his preferred goalkeeper.
Arteta emphasized the desire to have a squad with two high-quality players for each position, ensuring competition and rotation for optimal performance.
He highlighted the need to maximize the potential of both goalkeepers, indicating that more game time opportunities lie ahead for both Ramsdale and Raya.
Since Ramsdale’s arrival at Arsenal from Sheffield United in 2021, he has solidified his position as the team’s primary goalkeeper, also serving as the main backup for England’s starting goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.
With Raya joining Arsenal in the summer, competition for the No. 1 spot has intensified, making the Everton match the first instance since March 2022 where Ramsdale did not start a Premier League game.
