Aaron Ramsdale has seen himself fall down the pecking order at Arsenal since the arrival of David Raya from Brentford.
Mikel Arteta has openly expressed his satisfaction with Aaron Ramsdale’s reaction to being temporarily replaced as Arsenal’s primary goalkeeper by summer acquisition David Raya. While Ramsdale had performed admirably in the initial four fixtures of the season, Arteta opted to give the nod to new signing Raya for the most recent matches.
Raya, formerly of Brentford, showcased his skill in a flawless performance during Arsenal’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park. Furthermore, he kept a clean sheet in their midweek triumph, a resounding 4-0 win against PSV Eindhoven, which marked Arsenal’s return to the Champions League after a six-year hiatus.
As the much-anticipated north London derby against Spurs approaches, Arteta has not yet finalized his choice for the starting goalkeeper.
However, he has commended Ramsdale for his exemplary attitude in light of the managerial decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive and supportive environment within the squad.
In Arteta’s own words,
‘I understand it, and it’s very difficult with every player, and I suffer and care about every player who is not playing,’ said Arteta at his pre-match press conference. ‘But this is the competition and it is my job to make decisions in the best possible way for the team.
Speaking about Aaron Ramsdale’s reaction to being on the bench, the Spanish manager said
‘He’s been very supportive, he’s been really good around the place and that’s what I expect from every single player, because when you are on the field there is someone else who is not. So it goes both ways and so far he’s been really really good.’
He goes on to acknowledge the difficulty of benching players, highlighting the need for them to feel valued and trusted.
‘Comfortable? Maybe I look [it], but in your tummy when you have players sitting, or you have to announce the line-up, it’s one of the hardest things, because players feel happy and valued when they play.
‘When they don’t it’s very difficult. You want them to feel loved and trusted, and the way to do that is to play them, but everybody understands it’s a team sport.
‘It’s always 11 players starting, but we have seen as well how important the finishers are, and how important everybody is going to be in the season, and not look back on the team who have played the first six or seven games of the season.
‘It is hard, but with all the players it’s the same. Aaron is an exceptional character and he’s got this charisma and aura around him and we all know that and I fully understand that.’
Arteta recognizes that it’s a team sport and emphasizes the significance of every squad member throughout the season.
Arteta’s words reflect his understanding of the emotional challenges faced by players and the delicate balance required in managing the squad.
Mikel Arteta will be looking to get another win on Sunday as they Gunners welcome North London rivals Tottenham to the Emirates for their Premier League clash.