Mikel Arteta has helped a lot of players improve during his time as Arsenal manager, but several decisions have still been criticised.
Arteta was slammed when he signed relegated Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who usurped Bernd Leno from his number-one spot in 2021.
However, Ramsdale proved his critics wrong as he performed well and became a popular figure. There was then uproar again as two years later, Arteta signed another goalkeeper in David Raya.
Raya made several errors in his early months after surprisingly replacing Ramsdale, and there was huge scrutiny over both goalkeepers and Arteta after the controversial decision.
However, Raya settled into his role and excelled in the second half of the season, leading to Ramsdale’s departure as he joined Southampton.
Raya has hit new levels of excellence this season, and he stepped up to make an incredible double save from a penalty as Arsenal drew with Atalanta in the Champions League.
Former Chelsea winger Joe Cole has now claimed that Ramsdale’s departure has helped Raya thrive, but stated that the decision Arteta made over his goalkeepers last year was destined to cause problems.
Joe Cole claims Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal departure has helped David Raya improve
Speaking to TNT Sports, Cole claimed that the decision to have both Raya and Ramsdale in the squad last season was a mistake, and that the Spaniard has improved as a result of Ramsdale leaving.
“I always thought that was a mistake. With goalkeepers, it needs to be a clear hierarchy over your number one, because that position on the pitch is so mental,” he stated of Arteta’s decision to sign Raya last year.
“Everywhere you play on the pitch, you’re aware that if you’re in a top club, that your place is under threat, but you can lose your place and play in a different position.
“You can’t lose your place as a goalkeeper and play a different position. When you come out of the team and you’ve got that pressure over two world-class options, and you try and rotate, I don’t think that worked as an experiment.
“I think Aaron Ramsdale was a fantastic goalkeeper as well, and I think that might be a factor. I think he [Raya] has gotten better, because he’s got that security now – ‘listen I’m the number one,’ and you need to puff out your chest as a goalkeeper and know you are the top dog in the training ground.”
Mikel Arteta has been vindicated in his decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya
Despite the criticism he received last year, Arteta has been truly vindicated in his decision to replace Ramsdale with Raya, with the former Brentford star a significant upgrade on the England International.
Ramsdale has struggled at Southampton so far, whilst Raya has arguably been the best goalkeeper in Europe this season.
The controversy last season helped neither goalkeeper, but Arteta clearly spotted the potential for Raya to surpass Ramsdale, and his bold decision has fully paid off.
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