In response to David Raya’s nervous performance, Arsenal fans chanted Aaron Ramsdale’s name during the recent game against Chelsea. Raya, who started his sixth Premier League match in a row, struggled to defend Mikel Arteta’s decision to bench Ramsdale, who had been Arsenal’s undisputed No. 1 goalkeeper for the previous two seasons.
Raya’s performance was criticized, especially after he was blamed for the goal that put Chelsea up 2-0 just after halftime, as Mkyhailo Mudryk’s mishit cross caught the Spaniard off guard. While Arsenal made a late comeback to earn a point, Raya’s inaccurate pass almost handed Chelsea a third goal.
Despite the supporters’ evident preference for Ramsdale, who was absent from the game owing to the birth of his first child, Arteta understood his appreciation for the England international’s support. This fan support could be interpreted as a vote of confidence in Ramsdale.
He said: Great. I love him, I will sing every day for him. We sang a lot for him yesterday because he was a father which is the most beautiful thing to do.
‘I’m so happy he has this charisma and personality and is someone who is very loved around the team.’
However, Gary Neville, football analyst, has expressed concern over Arteta’s continuous faith in Raya, anticipating that the manager may be forced to make a change in goalkeeping due to the former Brentford man’s errors.
Neville stated: ‘His position Raya is not good enough he’s far too far forward that is not good from the Arsenal goalkeeper and that should not end up in the back of the net.
‘It’s meant as a cross for Raheem Sterling from Mudryk he doesn’t mean to chip him but the fact he can chip him isn’t right.
‘He’s too far forward there’s no doubt about that. He’s probably a yard too far off his line. He’s beyond the near post it just isn’t right.
‘Why he’s there you’ll have to ask him.’
Arsenal fans will be following Arteta’s handling of the ongoing competition between Raya and Ramsdale as the season unfolds.
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