Arsenal fell 2-1 to RC Lens, and according to some Gooners, David Raya may have let us down in that game. The Spaniard’s goalkeeping wasn’t up to par, with a misplaced long pass to the right wing allowing Lens to break forward for the equaliser, with Elye Wahi setting up Adrian Thomasson to score a goal that some believe Raya could have saved. If Lens hadn’t equalised in the 24th minute, things might have turned out differently.
ESPN pundit Craig Burley believes Aaron Ramsdale would have done a better job of saving the goals against Lens, particularly their equaliser. Burley is optimistic that the Englishman, who has been left out of the last few games, will soon get his chance to redeem himself, as he raved about how much better a goalie he is.
After Lens equalised, Burley commented on ESPN, “When David Raya’s perceived to be better with his feet than Ramsdale — who I don’t think’s terrible with his feet — but looking at that goal there, that was a great goal from Lens perspective, but Raya doesn’t have the stature of Ramsdale.
“Ramsdale’s much bigger, taller, more wingspan. There’s an argument to say he might have saved something like that. I saw him make some absolutely tremendous saves last year, Ramsdale, tip-of-the-finger stuff.
“Whilst they did not lose to Lens because of David Raya alone, I go back to this point, this was a very big and harsh decision on somebody who was terrific for the most part for Arsenal last year. So watch this space.”
Ramsdale, who has been a fantastic goalkeeper for us since his arrival, hasn’t had the best of times at the club in recent weeks.
Unfortunately, he has only appeared in one of our last six games. Mikel Arteta would claim that he is making the best decision for the team, but what went wrong, because he, after Raya joined, talked about how he wants healthy competition in his goalkeeping department?
If he couldn’t rotate them week in and week out, the best competition would have been using one in the league and the other in the Champions League. Raya is a fine goalie; we can’t argue with that, but Ramsdale isn’t bad either. Last season, the 24-year-old’s goalkeeping kept us in contention for the Premier League title, and he also put us back into the Champions League.
I’m not sure why Arteta is afraid to use him. Raya has had his chances, and I believe Ramsdale should have his as well after Raya’s shakey performance last night.
Don’t you?
Darren N
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If there’s one thing have learned about Arteta is that he doesn’t like to show he makes a mistake and he has too big of a ego to admit he’s wrong. If he drop Raya it will show that he’s wrong to drop Ramsdale in the first place, same with Harvetz.
But with that being said, please can someone tell me one particular thing that Raya has done in his 5 appearance for us that Ramsdale can’t do or even do better. That first Lens goal have seen Ramsdale saved those kind of shots before.
Agree Ramsdale should be playing!
I don’t raya is better than ramsdale both goals he was ball watching but arteta think he is the greatest in making choices and he is not its time for raya to sit down and havertz too partey needs to be played and ramsdale and rest saka and put nelson or esr on that wing
I dont agree that RAYA had a sub par perf last night. Not at all. His distribution was fine and accurate, as usual
Which is NOT to say that Ramsdale ought not to start against City.
Did you not see his unnecessary pass that led to Lens first goal Jon?
You are right, Pat. But let us not pretend that Ramsdale doesn’t do those in every game. It terrified me every time Ramsdale has the ball at his feet. I don’t get that same feeling with Raya. He’s not faultless, but even Ederson makes mistakes occasionally and he’s the very best at it and the reason every GK has to be a baller now.
Whatever calm they claim Raya produce in claiming high balls, he undoes it all with dithering with his passes attempts from the back which allows opponents swarms us every dang time.
And whatever passes they claim he is great at, he manages to spread panic to waiting players before the ball finally arrives at them.
An elite passing keeper circulates the ball quickly and masterfully without showing his hands…Raya on the other hand telegraph all of his passes, causing panic when the receiving player gets swarmed.
And Ramsdale has longer arm and better jump to stop shots.
So…yeah
You’re mental. Raya is superb with the ball at his feet and everything you just described can be applied to Ramsdale. His distribution is poor and he chooses the wrong option almost every time.
I trust in both Goalies, just up to the players to do their part to prevent facing shots the GKs stand zero chance of stopping if on target. i prefer Mikels decision though cos it’s up to him to manage the squad not me.
I agree Vamos, Mikel’s decisions are based on training the few days going into games whereas we judge on the match performance after the games and memories of last season. Ramsdale will get back in at some point, maybe at the weekend maybe not, and given his age he has plenty of time to improve beyond Raya.
Although Declan has had some really good games for us so far I think he falls into the same trap that a number of other defensive midfielders that we have had before have done and that is to be able to maintain the personal self discipline positionally when we are going forward not to commit too far up the pitch, Gilberto was the master of that selflessness and we have had few contenders since but I reckon only Partey for the first half of last season has managed to do it consistently.
We have numerous players with attacking creativity but we don’t actually create that many clear opportunities for our goalscorers like City do, Mikel often says that we had lots of chances in games but I believe they are half chances that come about through majority possession and pressure a lot of the time
Good start to the season though, let’s see where we improve from here.
Exactly! On the creating chances and goal scoring front we surely will improve and it will come raining soon enough, just a matter of time the slow start phase is completed.
It’s looking to me like Arteta made one brilliant transfer decision this summer (Rice) and two bad ones (Havertz & Raya). I see no case for dropping Ramsdale, but he has been undermined by the manager now. What Mikel giveth with hand he taketh away with the other…
You are forgetting Timber. Were it not for the unfortunate injury he was the best signing of all.
Whilst I had noticed that Ramsdale had some un-funny moments last season, it never occurred to me that Arteta would think about changing his number 1. Raya is a bit older and Ramsdale still can improve if he shows the right mentality. It must have been a bit of a shock to his system.
Strongly agree
I don’t think either Ramsdale or Raya have performed poorly. I think we carry passengers in the team on the pitch. We are starting games with 10.5 players and it’s hard enough with 11 top players.
I don’t think so. Three outings with 2 superb shows and one mistake don’t warrant a strike.
Let’s remember the howlers Ramsdale subjects us to. He can play the Carabao Cup, the FA CUP but not Europe and the league.
I agree with SueP above; Ramsdale was at a point where nothing bothered him; neither his bad form nor consequences of his outrageous antics. He needed a shot in the shoulder and this is precisely it.
Not three outings, it’s 5 outings (Everton PSV Totheanam Bournemouth and Lens) and he only had two good games not superb because in the Everton and PSV games he had little to do but in his first real test against Totheanam he couldn’t even complete any pass and now yesterday again the same thing.
Two Great Keepers. Great in their own ways. We need both for a Greater Team. Let’s encourage and correct them…..
I dont know what Ramsdale has done wrong to be dumped like an old sofa. But i dont know what Raya has done to justify his promotion. I have no problem with either, just the justification. It has to be said Raya was not great last night and his distribution is nowhere near as good as i had hoped.
Ramsdale has been a great goalkeeper I think he is way better than Raya , you guys are forgetting that it was him between those 2 poles last year that brought you to this Champions league now you rally behind Raya who couldn’t get his team to the Champions league. Ramsdale it’s better you look for a team that will appreciate you Arteta is quick to forget who was there for him when he needed your help
Agree, and I think he is better!
How was Raya shaky? He’s superior to Ramsdale and should remain in goal. It was one bad kick. Ramsdale does those several times in every game.
Ramsdale should never have been dropped in the first place but Raya has not performed badly enough for Arteta to change keepers again.
Right now our biggest concern is whether he starts with 10 or 11 men against Man City.
I understand Ramsdale being a fan favorite, but Raya is still a better fit to how we play. The most important decision is whether Havertz starts on Sunday. That dude is just not in the right mental space to affect games positively. Nelson on the right and Viera or Party in place of Havertz will make much more sense.
MA is obviously influenced by the Kronkes…
Ramsdale is a better goalkeeper, Raya is a better quaterback.