David Raya addresses Aaron Ramsdale Arsenal battle and issues Gary Neville reply
Arsenal have yet another heavyweight Premier League showdown awaiting them on Saturday evening when they make the trip to Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea.
Stamford Bridge has been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners in recent seasons and Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a replica of last term's dominant 1-0 win over the Blues courtesy of a Gabriel Magalhaes goal. Come full-time on Saturday and Arsenal will have played four of their five 'big-six rivals already', though this will be the first away from the Emirates.
It has been a promising enough start to the league season, with the Gunners currently sat in second. They boast a near-identical record to league leaders and local rivals Tottenham, but have scored two goals less. As things stand, there are no fresh, pressing injury concerns for Arteta to have fret about.
With that in mind, here are some of the main headlines emerging out of the Emirates on Wednesday, October 18.
Raya addresses Ramsdale relationship
David Raya has discussed what his relationship with Aaron Ramsdale is like (Getty Images)David Raya has broken his silence in regards to his dynamic with fellow Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, having taken the England international's place as Arsenal No.1
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The decision to bring the Brentford shot-stopper to the club on loan initially raised eyebrows. However, many have already grown familiar with the sight of the Spaniard between the sticks for Arsenal.
Raya has shed light on what it has been like training alongside his rival for minutes, telling The Athletic: "The relationship? It’s very good. At the end of the day, we are mates, which is the important thing. We have a very healthy relationship. There are no problems.
"We push each other every day in training: when he’s a little bit down, I push him, and when I’m a little bit down (he does the same). We train three goalkeepers, four at the most, for hours a week, and you need that kind of relationship because otherwise, the training is not going to go well."
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Raya's Neville reply
David Raya has defended his playing style after criticism from Gary NevilleThe Gunners 'keeper has also defended his playing style after he was labelled a 'nervous wreck' by Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville during the recent 1-0 win over Manchester City.
Neville was referring to the number of times Raya seemed to keep the ball at his feet a tad too long. One of those moments saw Julian Alvarez nearly capitalise, but the 'keeper's blushes were spared.
After being called 'a bit jittery' by the Manchester United legend, Raya responded: “It’s something I have internalised, but it’s also the coach’s orders.
"What he doesn’t want is for us to start hitting balls — we have to invite a player (opponent to press) to come out a little bit. I’m the free man, and once a striker or someone jumps me, that leaves a free man on the pitch, and we have to look for superiority. That’s the way the coach tells me to play."
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Ghana issue Partey update
Thomas Partey's substituion for Ghana against Mexico was pre-planned (Getty Images)Ghana national team boss has confirmed Thomas Partey has NOT suffered another injury after the Arsenal midfielder was withdrawn at half-time against Mexico.
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Partey has already suffered an injury that has kept him sidelined out of action for Arsenal for a number of weeks, with the midfielder missing the north London derby last month as well as five other fixtures.
"Thomas was always only going to play 45 minutes," said Houghton when asked about Partey's fitness. "He has been out injured for three to four weeks, he came back for Arsenal last midweek, was on the subs bench for one game and played 20 minutes for the next game. So we knew he was only going to play 45 minutes."
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