BBC pundit thinks one Arsenal star will feel ‘let down’ after Mikel Arteta betrayal

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Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton feels that Mikel Arteta has betrayed one of his Arsenal players this season.

Chris Sutton believes that Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has every reason to feel misled by Mikel Arteta.

Ramsdale has been a bit-part player for the Gunners this season. On Saturday, the English shot-stopper was handed his first Premier League start since November against Brentford. Arteta had to pick him for this match, as David Raya is currently on loan at the Emirates Stadium from Brentford, and is therefore ineligible to play against his parent club.

After a nightmare moment in the first half, Ramsdale was able to redeem himself in the eyes of many Arsenal fans after the break. In what was likely to be Ramsdale’s final appearance for the north London club, Kai Havertz’s late winner ensured that his first-half mistake did not cost Arsenal any points as they instead secured a return to the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal expect Ramsdale to leave the club this summer. Certainly, as this stage in his career, the 25-year-old needs to be playing regular football, especially if he wants to keep his aspirations of becoming the England No. 1 alive. Arsenal are set to make Raya’s switch to the Emirates Stadium permanent, underlining the fact that Ramsdale has no future in Arteta’s plans.

Did Mikel Arteta betray Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal this season?

Earlier on this season, soon after the Spanish ‘keeper’s arrival, Arteta suggested that both players would enjoy plenty of game time over the course of the campaign. As reported by TNT Sports, the Spanish coach claimed that he intended to rotate his goalkeepers in and out of the starting XI regularly, and even suggested that he would consider swapping them within matches. 

However, such plans never came to fruition. Ramsdale has largely been restricted to run outs in the domestic cup games. Since he first came into the team in September, Raya has very much been the first-choice pick between the sticks. Even when many Arsenal fans were calling for Ramsdale to retake the starting role amidst Raya’s early struggles, Arteta stuck by the loanee.

Raya’s recent form has justified that decision. However, it cannot be argued that Arteta ever lived up to his word when it came to giving both players plenty of minutes. It is impossible to know if the boss ever honestly intended to rotate the ‘keepers or not, but he must surely regret ever revealing such a plan, as it can now be held against him as an example of dishonesty and of him reneging on his word.

Sutton certainly feels for Ramsdale, who has arguably been betrayed by Arteta in this scenario. Speaking on BBC 606, he said, “from Ramsdale’s perspective, it’s difficult for him, because when Raya came in Arteta spoke about rotating the goalkeepers. We all had our opinions on who’s the better goalkeeper. But I feel like Ramsdale may feel let down by Mikel Arteta and his words because everyone expected it to be a couple of games each, didn’t they?”