Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes that the goalkeeper situation at Arsenal could undermine the Gunners’ title push this season.
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 4-3 win against Luton Town on Tuesday evening. Whilst the Gunners were able to escape Kenilworth Road with all three points in tow, it would have been a far more comfortable affair for them had two David Raya howlers not gifted the hosts a couple of goals.
After the match, plenty of Arsenal fans vented their frustration with Raya. A few even suggested that Aaron Ramsdale ought to be brought back into the starting XI.
Mikel Arteta though, in his post-match comments, refused to be drawn into criticising the Spanish shot-stopper. As quoted by the club’s official website, he would only state that “we have to defend better the situations as a team. There are certain things leading to the goals and it’s not about blaming, we have never done it, and we’re not going to do it now.”
Raya was guilty of errors for two of the Hatters’ goals. In the first instance, the Brentford loanee opted to come off his line to claim a corner. However, he was weak in challenging for the ball, which allowed Elijah Adebayo to nod into an empty net.
Luton Town’s third goal of the evening came via a low effort from Ross Barkley. Raya should have made a straightforward save with his feet, but instead chose to dive. The 28-year-old failed to get his hands down in time and the ball squirmed in under his body.
Anxiety over Arsenal goalkeeper uncertainty
This was not the first dodgy performance Raya has produced since he usurped Ramsdale in the Arsenal pecking order. Equally, Ramsdale himself produced a very nervy and error-strewn display in his last appearance for the club.
Much has been made of Arteta’s decision to sign Raya in the summer, and make him his No. 1. He has also been criticised for his treatment of Ramsdale.
There is certainly evidence that this pressure and attention has negatively impacted the form and confidence of both players. Neither looks to be performing with the conviction that they can play with freedom at this time.
Having such hampered goalkeepers could, of course, have disastrous consequences for the Gunners this season, as Jamie Carragher fears it might.
Speaking on The Overlap, the former defender said, “I can’t think of many teams, if ever, who have won a league title without a goalkeeper being a big part of it. I just look at the goalkeeper situation and just think, it doesn’t feel right…that’s the one thing.”
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