David Raya has had a shaky start to life at Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta has complicated his goalkeeping situation and helped make David Raya a ‘bag of nerves’ as his shaky start to his Arsenal career continues, believes Jamie Redknapp.
Raya struggled again in the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Saturday, conceding a miscued cross from Mykhaylo Mudryk and nearly suffering even more embarrassment as he passed the ball to Cole Palmer but the Blues star failed to make the most of the mistake.
The loan signing from Brentford is under pressure as he steps up to a bigger club, along with the fact that he replaced Aaron Ramsdale in Arteta’s starting XI, despite the England international doing little wrong to deserve being ousted.
Liverpool legend Redknapp feels Raya was out of position to allow Mudryk’s cross to evade him and the Spaniard is looking extremely nervous so far in an Arsenal shirt.
The former England midfielder believes it is a problem created by Arteta, who has put pressure on both his goalkeepers by bringing in Raya from the Bees.
‘Raya is now going to come under a lot of scrutiny,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports. ‘There’s no doubt that Mudryk wants to cross it for his goal. If you look at Raya’s positioning before the cross that is a David Raya position. It’s very aggressive. Normally, I would want my goalkeeper two yards further back just to make sure you don’t get caught with the lob.
Misha’s second goal for Chelsea! ð¥
pic.twitter.com/GG8av4sk5s— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 21, 2023
‘But he’s looking to be aggressive and on the front foot. I think it’s a bad position. A lot is going to be said about Aaron Ramsdale now, but I actually think you should forget about Ramsdale for a second… what’s happened with this situation is that it’s made [Raya] look worse.
‘He looks like a bag of nerves right now. Raya is really struggling with the pressure and the scrutiny he’s under. He’s giving the ball away, he’s looking like he’s always going to concede goals. The situation hasn’t helped him.
Raya could not stop the seemingly miscued cross from Mykhaylo Mudryk (Picture: Getty Images)
‘People have said that Aaron Ramsdale should consider leaving, but I disagree. I think he should hang in there given the way Raya has given away so many goals. He’s not showing that he’s good enough to be No 1.
‘Mikel Arteta has complicated a situation that he really didn’t need to.’
MORE : Gary Neville gives verdict on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya’s huge mistake vs Chelsea
MORE : Aaron Ramsdale breaks silence on getting dropped by Mikel Arteta and losing Arsenal place to David Raya
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