Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Kasey Keller has questioned Arsenal’s decision to sign David Raya.
Arsenal signed Spanish goalkeeper David Raya on a season-long loan deal in the recent summer transfer window. The Gunners are expected to convert the switch into a permanent one for a fee of £27 million.
Raya began the new season behind Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal pecking order, but usurped the 25-year-old in the starting XI a few weeks ago. Mikel Arteta now seems to have settled on Raya being his No. 1.
In general, the 28-year-old has been solid since becoming a regular starter for the Gunners. However, he endured a difficult start to the match against Manchester City last time out. Early on in that encounter at the Emirates Stadium, Raya was nervous in possession and looked uncomfortable when trying to deal with crosses into the box. However, he grew into the game and was much-improved after the break.
Many will feel that Ramsdale was unfortunate to lose his starting berth, though, and that he is just as good a player as Raya.
Arteta taking gamble with goalkeeper situation
That is certainly how Kasey Keller feels about the situation. The 102-cap former USA international believes that the north London club made a mistake in bringing Raya to the Emirates Stadium in the first place. Speaking on ESPN, the 53-year-old said, “I understand that if [Matt] Turner is leaving to go to [Nottingham] Forest you needed cover, so what is normally the case is that you bring in a veteran goalkeeper who you know you won’t hesitate if your starting goalkeeper slips up and isn’t playing well, or you bring in a young up and coming kid to challenge him for that starting spot.”
“Instead you sign two number ones which causes all kinds of problems in the changing room, it causes problems with the fans, and then when that new goalkeeper comes in and has shaky moments the fans then get on their back and the manager has no other choice but to back the guy who he spent a ton of money on to replace a guy who didn’t need to be replaced.”
“So why Arteta decided at this stage that this was the controversy that he wanted to bring into his squad, I think we are all shaking our heads at that.”
Arteta clearly has enough faith in the professionalism of both Raya and Ramsdale to feel that this situation won’t negatively impact their performances on the pitch or the overall harmony of the squad. Ultimately, though, it seems likely that only one of the two will remain on the books at the club in the long-term.
For now, Ramsdale won’t have given up on getting his place at the top of the pecking order back. Arteta will be hoping that this intense level of internal competition brings the best out of both of the shot-stoppers.
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