21 August 2023 , 15:04
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Mikel Arteta has commended Aaron Ramsdale for embracing the added competition for places in the wake of David Raya's move to Arsenal.
More than a few eyebrows were raised when The Gunners decided to pursue a deal for Raya, who has since moved to the Emirates in a £3million loan deal. The club have the option to make the switch permanent for a further £27m, which they are expected to do in due course.
Raya established himself as one of the Premier League 's finest goalkeepers during his time in the top-flight with Brentford, whilst Ramsdale has gone from strength to strength since joining the Gunners in the summer of 2021.
The decision to effectively start the season with two No.1's has been criticised in some quarters, but Arteta has insisted that Ramsdale's attitude since the move was confirmed has been nothing short of exemplary.
When he was asked about how the England star has reacted to Raya's arrival, Arteta responded: "Very positive. The way I see them training, I saw a training session they did the other day, it was fantastic.
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"I think the connection that they have straight away is really good, but this is something that doesn’t surprise me. This is what I expect from players. It’s the same that I expect when I brought Declan Rice. What is their reaction? Hopefully really, really positive because the team wants to be better.
Join the debate! Who do you think will end the season as Arsenal's No.1: Ramsdale or Raya? Let us know here.
Ramsdale is currently ahead of Raya in the Arsenal pecking order (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)"If that’s not the reaction, the team doesn’t want to be better, then I will be worried. Then we haven’t created an environment that we want at this club."
As well sealing a deal for Raya, Arsenal have also brought Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz to the Emirates this summer for significant transfer fees as they bid to go one better than last season's second-place finish.
Timber is set to miss the majority of the campaign after sustaining an ACL injury, and Arteta has highlighted how that major setback is the perfect example of why the club need two quality options for each position.
He added: "It’s not a gamble [bringing in Raya] it’s a necessity. There is no other way. Because when we were here last season people were saying about the difference between tier one and what you call tier two players is too big. Then how do you resolve it? We can bring excellent players from the academy.
"Unfortunately, today we don’t have somebody ready to make that step. Hopefully, we’d have had seven, in the generation that we had in the past we could do that, and then we don’t have to go in the market.
"But we have to create that environment. It’s not a competition. It’s to raise the level and the demands that we’re going to be facing, and that football is facing."