Pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has voiced his opinion on Arsenal’s apparent interest in signing David Raya this summer.
Speaking on TalkSport, as shared on their Twitter page, Danny Murphy thinks that Arsenal’s pursuit of Brentford goalkeeper David Raya could be a recipe for disaster.
Murphy said of the mooted transfer, “I’m really struggling with that. Two-fold. One, if you go and get him, what it says to Ramsdale, and what Arteta is thinking of him…from the flip side, if you’re Raya, your next move has to be to a club where you’re number one. There’s no way…’I’ll come and be number two and earn my place’, he’s saying ‘am I starting?’”
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Given Brentford want £40 million for Raya, that would represent a huge investment for Arsenal in the Spanish shot-stopper. It would certainly raise a lot of questions too, with Aaron Ramsdale being the established first choice at the Emirates Stadium, having been signed for £30 million himself, and given that he only signed a contract extension with the Gunners in May.
However, Mikel Arteta has already shown he can be ruthless in his time as Arsenal boss. Highly paid, first team stars such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been unceremoniously cut from the squad on his watch.
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That isn’t to suggest the same would happen to Ramsdale, but the Spanish coach won’t want any player thinking his place in the team is safe. Whilst Matt Turner is there as the 25-year-old ‘keeper’s back up, the American isn’t pushing for the No. 1 spot and could be due a move of his own this summer.
A win or bust move for Arsenal
Raya certainly won’t want to come in and settle for a place on the bench in north London, either. The 2-cap Spain international is a top class player and will put huge pressure on Ramsdale for his place in the starting XI.
That is exactly what Arteta wants: a battle. Whether it’s worth £40 million for him to get it is another matter. One thing that is certain, if Arsenal do bring in Raya, then neither he nor Ramsdale will be happy playing second fiddle for long. The fight for top spot in the pecking order will be fierce, but not long.
The end result could be a scenario that sees the Gunners with the best of the two ‘keepers starting regularly, with the other providing a very able alternative option. Otherwise, it could be a disaster, with two disgruntled goalkeepers that cost the club £70 million between them.