Arsenal legend Sol Campbell warns Mikel Arteta ‘doubt creeps in’ with ‘sticky’ situation

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Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has warned Mikel Arteta that their ‘sticky’ situation with David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale ‘can cost you’ if their defenders start to doubt either.

It is a situation entirely of Arteta’s making after the Arsenal manager sought to sign Raya this summer. The Spanish coach felt his compatriot still presented an upgrade on Ramsdale, who made the PFA Team of the Year last season. But the Gunners are still yet to find any benefits.

Raya has not proven to be an upgrade on Ramsdale since taking the 25-year-old’s spot after the September international break. The 28-year-old has been nervous in possession and has struggled as a shot-stopper. He was at fault for two Luton Town goals as Arsenal won 4-3.

Mikel Arteta has relentlessly stuck with David Raya despite his struggles at Arsenal

Arteta has relentlessly persisted with Raya as Arsenal’s No1 despite the three-cap Spaniard’s struggles since joining from Brentford. The £3m loanee, who the Gunners can buy for £27m next summer, has started their five Champions League ties and in 10 Premier League games.

Ramsdale only returned to the Arsenal side at Brentford in November as Raya was ineligible to face his parent club. He also enjoyed two appearances in the Carabao Cup but West Ham beat the Gunners 3-1 in the fourth round. Ramsdale now faces a waiting game to play again.

Sol Campbell issues a warning about the David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale situation

The goalkeeper situation involving Raya and Ramsdale is Arsenal’s only ‘sticky’ situation for Campbell. He believes it could deal Arteta bigger problems down the line if their defenders start to doubt either goalkeeper. Their likes of William Saliba need to know what to expect.

“The only sticky part is the David Raya – Aaron Ramsdale situation,” Campbell has told The Sun. “In those really tense moments, on a knife-edge, you need to know exactly what your goalkeeper is going to do.

“If it keeps on changing – or if this situation carries on – no centre-half will turn around and say: ‘Yeah, we don’t mind’. Your mindset changes. Doubt creeps in. At this elite level, another half a second of thought can cost you.”

A 97th-minute winner from Declan Rice bailed Raya out at Luton on Tuesday night following the goalkeeper’s plight in Arsenal’s net. It was just the latest example of the Barcelona-born stopper struggling for the Gunners as he failed to command the air or stop a saveable strike.