Mikel Arteta tipped to replace ‘top-class’ Arsenal 2023 transfer by Sky pundit

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Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Mikel Arteta already looked to replace David Raya, despite the goalkeeper securing his transfer to Arsenal this year.

The Gunners only made a deal with Brentford to sign Raya on loan for the 2023/24 season in August. It also features the option for Arsenal to buy the 28-year-old next year. Expectations are that the Emirates Stadium team will trigger the clause having become Arteta’s clear No1.

Raya ousted Aaron Ramsdale to be the first-choice goalkeeper in north London straight out of the September international break. He has gained Arteta’s full faith despite the Spaniard’s displays proving inconsistent at best. Arsenal signing Raya has been dubbed a ‘mistake’, too.

Arsenal already plan to secure David Raya’s permanent transfer

Arsenal paid Brentford £3m to loan Raya for a season with a £27m option for his permanent transfer. Fabrizio Romano also now reports that Arteta has decided to trigger the clause and buy Raya. The three-cap stopper already agreed a long-term contract when joining on loan.

Yet while Boyd believes Raya is a ‘top-class goalkeeper’, he will not be shocked if Arteta tried to replace him. The Rangers icon sees similarities between how Arteta has handled Arsenal’s goalkeeper role and how Pep Guardiola tackled Manchester City’s upon taking over in 2016.

Mikel Arteta would not shock Kris Boyd by replacing David Raya

Joe Hart was Manchester City’s clear No1 when Guardiola took over at Etihad Stadium from Manuel Pellegrini. Yet they paid Barcelona £15.5m to sign Claudio Bravo in Guardiola’s first window in charge. The Citizens then paid Benfica £35m to bring in Ederson just a year later.

So, Arteta will not shock Boyd if he follows his mentor’s trend by trying to improve Arsenal’s goalkeeper position again. Even though Arsenal only just signed Raya to replace Ramsdale at Emirates Stadium. Arteta spent three years as Guardiola’s No2 behind he took over Arsenal.

“There’s similarities,” Boyd told Sky Sports News (02/12, 12:20). “[After Hart], they brought in [Bravo] from Barcelona, as well. It didn’t quite work, then eventually they got their No1.

“You can feel as if, I know they’re going to spend a lot of money. But I wouldn’t be surprised if a year [or] two years down the line if he goes and looks to improve that position again.”