REVEALED: Why Arsenal will replace Ramsdale with Raya
Tom Hancock
- 2 Aug 2023 18:33 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s reasoning for replacing goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya is becoming increasingly clear.
The Gunners have already agreed personal terms with Raya, who now looks set to leave Brentford and swap West London for North London.
It may seem harsh on Ramsdale – who dug Arsenal out of a hole on numerous occasions last term – but Arteta’s frustrations with his current number one have been plain to see in pre-season.
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During the Gunners’ recent tour of the USA, their manager was regularly seen turning away infuriated by Ramsdale’s misplaced passes.
The former Bournemouth and Sheffield United ‘keeper is capable with the ball at his feet – but he has often looked too relaxed in possession, to the point of carelessness.
A high-profile mistake by the England international came towards the end of last season – when he gifted Southampton the lead just 27 seconds into a 3-3 draw which dented Arsenal’s ultimately unsuccessful Premier League title pursuit.
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One of the Premier League’s top-performing shot-stoppers
Arsenal can’t afford many moments like that if they are to build on their strong overall 2022/23 showing and get their hands on silverware in 2023/24.
And Raya could be the key to success for Arteta and co – having enjoyed two fine top-flight campaigns with Brentford – who he helped to promotion from the Championship two years ago.
Only David de Gea, Alisson, Nick Pope and – rather ironically – Ramsdale, kept more Premier League clean sheets last season than the 27-year-old Spaniard – who earned his first two international caps last year and was included in his country’s 2022 World Cup squad.
Raya is said to be valued at £40m by Brentford – who prepared for his departure by signing Netherlands ‘keeper Mark Flekken from Freiburg in June.
