28 October 2023 , 16:44
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Arsene Wenger has told Aaron Ramsdale to “not give up” after being left baffled by Mikel Arteta ’s decision to rotate his goalkeepers.
The former Sheffield United star was the Gunners’ first choice stopper throughout the last couple of seasons. He has seen his position under severe threat this term following the loan arrival of Brentford’s Raya.
The decision has looked questionable at times with Raya committing a handful of high-profile errors. So far, Arteta has refused to confirm who his number one is, while he has also resisted the temptation to restore Ramsdale to the starting line-up.
Wenger is confident that he will get a chance again sooner rather than later though. Speaking on beIN Sport, the Frenchman said: “Personally I like Ramsdale. If I was in his position, I would not give up because I believe he has a chance to come back into the team.
“[Is Ramsdale] better? I don’t know. I just think Ramsdale has made decisive saves in the games last season. They were not happy maybe with his feet.”
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Asked whether there needs to be a decision over who the Gunners’ number one is, Wenger replied: “Always, that’s my belief. I don’t believe in rotating goalkeeper it’s a lack of clarity of the hierarchy.
David Raya has usurped Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal pecking order (Getty Images)Who do you think should be Arsenal's starting goalkeeper? Share your thoughts in the comments below
“That doesn’t work unless the hierarchy exists until you say ‘look it’s two or three bad performances and now it’s a change and I give a chance to the other one'. The hierarchy has to be clear.”
Wenger was then asked to explain why the decision had been made, with the Frenchman believing that he was trying to slim down the already small margins between Arsenal and last season’s title rivals Manchester City.
He added: “On the other hand, when you’re in this position, it happened to me many times, you have a good team and you want to improve it. You look and think ‘what can I improve?’ Maybe the distribution from the back.
“It happened to me with the centre-backs, you want the guy who has better distribution from the back. And then you realise he is less good defensively and his first job is to defend.”
Arteta stuck with Raya during Saturday’s straightforward success against Sheffield United. The 28-year-old helped himself to his fourth clean sheet in the Premier League this season during the 5-0 success against the Blades.
Eddie Nketiah was the Gunners’ matchwinner with a sensational hat-trick in the absence of Gabriel Jesus. The academy graduate now has five goals in ten Premier League outings this term.
He will hope to extend his great form during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup showdown with West Ham - a game in which Ramsdale could be afforded an opportunity.