Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop Aaron Ramsdale certainly raised a few eyebrows, but David Raya hasn’t put a foot wrong since becoming Arsenal’s new No.1
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has inadvertently warned Mikel Arteta that rotating David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale is a ‘dangerous’ tactic. Raya, who Arsenal signed from Brentford in the summer, has started each of the Gunners’ previous four games across all competitions, casting doubt over the future of Ramsdale.
Despite giving his new signing a run of games between the sticks, Arteta has previously insisted that he simply wants ‘two quality players in each position’. When asked last month if Raya is Arsenal’s new first-choice goalkeeper, he replied: “I think I mentioned it that we wanted to build a squad with two quality players in each position, with different characteristics, and we have got that now.
“And to maximise that they have to play games, and we have a lot of games coming up now. And we have the same with other players that we have rotated and there will be a lot of game-time in the next few games.”
Pochettino fires Arteta warning as Chelsea avoid ‘dangerous’ Arsenal tactic (Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
However, ever since the Gunners boss decided to drop Ramsdale, the England international has been heavily linked with an exit from the Emirates Stadium. And, ironically, Chelsea are one of several top clubs in Europe ‘closely monitoring’ his future, according to the Daily Mail.
The report states that the Blues remain open to further bolstering their goalkeeping options, while the Bundesliga champions are looking for a long-term successor to Manuel Neuer, who turns 38 in March. Nevertheless, Pochettino has revealed that he’s not the biggest fan of rotating two first-choice shot-stoppers.
“I think it’s very important to have good players in every position, to have that competition for places,” said the Chelsea boss, as quoted by Goal. “When I was in Paris, I had two big top keepers, [Gianluigi] Donnarumma and [Keylor] Navas.
“It depends on their profile and characteristics, professional and personal. What I prefer is to have the best players and the players that can be compatible between themselves. In Paris, we would play Donnarumma for two games and Navas for two games.
“It’s possible, but it’s dangerous. It’s always good for every single club to define who is your No.1, but in football, the decision is the decision but sometimes coaches want to improve and have different profiles in the squad. Then it is how the player who is not going to play accepts being No.2.”
Funnily enough, Pochettino’s message also serves as a warning to the Blues’ recruitment team, who the Daily Mail claim are open to add to Robert Sanchez. If Chelsea were to sign Ramsdale, the Argentine would find himself in the same predicament as Arteta!