A round-up of the latest Arsenal news, with updates from Emirates Stadium on David Raya as Manchester City’s Kyle Walker speaks out about his clash with Nicholas Jover.
David Raya addresses his relationship with Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal
David Raya has stated that there ‘are no problems’ between himself and Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal. Instead, the Spaniard has commended his rival for how the Englishman responded in training to losing out on the No1 position at Emirates Stadium after the September break.
Ramsdale started this season as Mikel Arteta’s No1 between the posts but fell to the side for Raya last month. The 28-year-old has since remained the first-choice goalkeeper for Arsenal whilst on loan from Brentford. He has also kept four clean sheets in six appearances thus far.
Three of Raya’s shut-outs came in Premier League games with Everton, AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City. He also credits some of that success to how Ramsdale has pushed him at London Colney. Raya believes they have struck a good bond, despite being in competition.
“The relationship? It’s very good,” he told The Athletic. “At the end of the day, we are mates, which is the important thing. We have a very healthy relationship, there are no problems.
“We push each other every day in training: When he’s a little bit down, I push him and when I’m a little bit down [he does the same to me].
“We train three goalkeepers, four at the most, for hours a week, and you need that kind of relationship because, otherwise, the training is not going to go well.”
Kevin Campbell urges Arsenal to finalise Ben White’s new contract
Arsenal hero Kevin Campbell has urged the Gunners to finalise talks with Ben White over his new contract. Fabrizio Romano notes that Emirates Stadium chiefs are speaking with the 26-year-old over extending his commitment. The defender is currently tied down to June 2026.
Confidence is also high in north London that White will agree to sign a new contract soon to remain an Arsenal player for the foreseeable. Talks have been ongoing since August to wrap up an extension after captain Martin Odegaard renewed. He is also happy to stay at Arsenal.
White has been an integral part of Arteta’s system since joining Arsenal in a £50m deal from Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2021. He has featured 95 times across all competitions and is now their first-choice right-back. So, Campbell urges Arsenal to get White to pen a new deal.
“White, do you remember many people questioned him at right-back?” Campbell told The Highbury Squad podcast. “Really questioned him at right-back. But he has gone on from strength to strength and he has made that right-back spot his own… Tie him down.”
Man City’s Kyle Walker opens up on his spat with Nicholas Jover
Kyle Walker has broken his silence on the defender’s spat with Nicholas Jover after Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0. The 33-year-old reacted angrily toward the Gunners coach as he offered a handshake after the Premier League affair. It sparked a fierce touchline exchange.
Jover was ready by the touchline to commiserate the Citizens team when they headed down the tunnel. But Walker took issue with the act as the Arsenal coach had refused a handshake after Manchester City’s victory last season. So, the defender confronted a former colleague.
“I don’t like losing,” Walker detailed, via the Express. “A couple of matches before, Nico, who worked for Man City, and he did not want to shake hands when we beat them before. When we lost, he wanted to shake my hand and I did not take it lightly. Simple as that.
“I haven’t been in touch but I have been concentrating on England. But I will probably reach out to him, definitely. I will say, it was probably a bit too much.
Arteta prised Jover away from Manchester City in July 2021 after two years working for Pep Guardiola. He initially stayed at Etihad Stadium after Arteta replaced Unai Emery at Emirates Stadium in December 2019. But they ultimately reunited after a brief spell together for City.
Thomas Partey is a doubt to start at Chelsea amid new injury fears
Arsenal visit Chelsea on Saturday to resume their Premier League season but might head for Stamford Bridge without Thomas Partey. The Ghana midfielder is a doubt for this weekend’s London derby after going off at half-time as his country lost 2-0 against Mexico last Sunday.
But Charles Watts reports that Partey did not sustain a new injury with the Black Stars. Chris Hughton, instead, sought to replace the 30-year-old at the break to manage his minutes. He wanted to avoid Partey having any fitness issues after missing games with an injury recently.
Partey only returned from his mix of a groin and a thigh injury as a late substitute as Arsenal beat Manchester City. He played the final 15 minutes of the top-of-the-table Premier League clash. Arteta had been without the 45-cap anchor in six games since the start of September.
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