David Raya is currently Arsenal’s No.1 goalkeeper (Picture: Getty)
David Raya has backed Mikel Arteta’s decision to install him as Arsenal’s No.1 goalkeeper amid criticism from the father of his rival Aaron Ramsdale.
The summer signing from Brentford usurped the England international earlier this season and, despite several high-profile errors, appears to retain the unequivocal backing of his manager.
Ramsdale, meanwhile, has been limited to appearances in the Carabao Cup since Raya’s promotion and has admitted he has started to fret about his chances of being included in the Three Lions squad for Euro 2024.
The former Sheffield United and Bournemouth star’s cause was unlikely to be advanced by an interview given by his dad last week in which he accused Arteta of mishandling of the situation with regards to his goalkeepers.
Ramsdale will get a rare opportunity to impress between the sticks this afternoon with Raya ineligible to face his parent club Brentford as per the terms of his loan deal, and Raya will be willing his teammate to do well regardless of the criticism he and Arteta have faced.
Aaron Ramsdale will start a Premier League game for the first time since September 3 when Arsenal take on Brentford (Picture: Getty)
‘Everyone has their opinion,’ Raya told the Daily Mail when asked about the constant conversations over who should be Arsenal’s No.1.
‘If they want to debate let them. I have a very good relationship with Aaron and both of us are there to help the team. In the end it is the manager who chooses who plays.’
Arteta, himself, was directly asked about Ramsdale Snr’s comments at his pre-match press conference and said: ‘Aaron, and any player who is playing less than he wanted, there are many unfortunately in a dressing room of 24 players, their behaviour that we demand and we expect is to constantly challenge and make each other better.
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‘Always have the purpose and ability to overcome the situation and play and show with facts that you have to play, and you have to play more and how wrong I am and [think] ‘how can I help the team when it is necessary?’.
‘Aaron has had that attitude every day since I have been here.’
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Mikel Arteta has been criticised by the England international’s dad for dropping his son.