David Raya has now named Aaron Ramsdale as the one Arsenal player who he hopes thinks the on-loan Brentford goalkeeper is a ‘top, top’ star amid their fight to be No1.
The Gunners swooped in the summer to land Raya on loan from the Bees as manager Mikel Arteta sought an upgrade between the sticks. He would also install the Spaniard as the new No1 at Arsenal within a matter of weeks and has not seemed likely to recall Ramsdale since.
Raya came in for Ramsdale after just three Premier League fixtures on the bench at Emirates Stadium. The 28-year-old has since started in all 12 of the games available to him plus in five Champions League ties. Arteta recalled Ramsdale in the top-flight for just a trip to Brentford.
David Raya is still to prove he is an upgrade for Arsenal
Ramsdale only got to start as Arsenal edged Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium as Raya was ineligible to face his parent club. Arteta further only recalled Ramsdale away to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and over their two Carabao Cup ties to rest Raya.
It is clear beyond any doubt that Arteta views Raya unquestionably as Arsenal’s No1, despite however he performs. The Gunners’ gaffer has blindly stuck with his compatriot and ignored Ramsdale, even when Raya has endured error-strewn games against the likes of Luton Town.
David Raya reveals his hope concerning Aaron Ramsdale
Yet despite their fight to be No1 for Arsenal, Raya hopes Ramsdale still rates him highly. The Barcelona native believes the 25-year-old is a ‘top, top’ player and teammate and hopes he feels the same. Raya also thinks their fight in training at London Colney can only help Arteta.
“He is a top, top goalkeeper and a top, top teammate,” Raya said, via quotes by The Sun. “I hope he can say the same about me! We are teammates [and] we are fighting for one position. That’s the only problem being a goalkeeper.
“There is only one that can play and I am just there to help the team as much as possible. We have a good relationship, especially as we push each other in every training session. That is going to make us better and it is going to make the team better.”
Arteta will have to hope Ramsdale’s challenge pushes Raya to reach higher levels for Arsenal this season. The Gunners cannot afford to have a goalkeeper their defenders cannot trust to be title contenders. Raya’s often unconvincing displays can only come back to bite Arsenal.
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