Mikel Arteta sent fresh warning over "problem" player by Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher has hit out at David Raya and believes the Arsenal goalkeeper's form is becoming a major problem for Mikel Arteta.
Eyebrows were raised in the summer when Arteta brought Raya to the Emirates as competition for Aaron Ramsdale. Despite Ramsdale's excellent season last year, Raya quickly usurped the England star and has been the Gunners' first-choice shot-stopper since mid-September.
However, Raya has looked shaky in recent weeks and was caught out in the recent 2-2 draw against Chelsea. The Spaniard was then at fault again for Newcastle's winning goal on Saturday evening as the Gunners' unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end at St. James' Park.
And while there was plenty of controversy surrounding other incidents involving VAR in the build-up to the goal, Carragher parked the blame for Anthony Gordon's matchwinning strike at Raya's door.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "Let’s not get lost in all the VAR stuff: the Arsenal goalkeeper [David Raya] has, again, made another mistake and this is a massive problem now for Mikel Arteta. This is a huge problem. Again he’s made the same mistake, like he did a couple of weeks ago at Chelsea, and he got away with it. He hasn’t got away with it here.
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"Look at where he is initially, when the shot comes in initially he’s outside his near post. The ball flies across the other side and keep an eye on him: he tells his players to get out, he’s wanting the ball to be called out of play and then he just keeps edging and edging forward. And when that ball leaves Joe Willock’s foot, again, he – the goalkeeper – is outside his near post.
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Jamie Carragher believes David Raya's performances have become a problem for Arsenal (Sky Sports)"Now this a recurring theme with this goalkeeper a lot. He finds himself where he’s out of position and he can’t then reach the ball. And I actually think it then has a knock-on effect when you’re talking about the foul, because I think Gabriel Magalhaes is actually stooping because he thinks the ball might evade the keeper and he might have to [head it clear]."
Despite Carragher's verdict, Raya was quick to bemoan the calls that went against Arsenal in the build-up to Gordon's goal. Speaking after the match, he said: "What I could see was the ball went out of play, and then after going to the dressing room, looking back at the goal, it’s a big foul on Gabi. He’s pushing him with two hands on his back when he’s about to clear the ball.
"On the other hand, it could have been an offside position, that’s harder to see. But the ball is out of play and the foul is a massive decision that’s just going to cost us some points. We’re really frustrated.
"The way we played, the way we competed, it was brilliant from everybody. We did what the gaffer asked us to do; win duels and get the ball up the pitch and everything, but decisions have taken a goal."
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