Chris Sutton has weighed in on the performance of an Arsenal player this season, suggesting that Mikel Arteta may reconsider his previous stance on having two top-class goalkeepers at the club.
Raya has impressed greatly in recent months since joining Arsenal on loan, with an option to buy that could see the club sign him permanently for approximately £30 million.
Despite Aaron Ramsdale’s strong performances for Arsenal and his reward of a new long-term contract towards the end of the previous season, he lost his starting position to Raya early in the current campaign, which came as a surprise to many.
While Arteta initially hinted at rotating his goalkeepers regularly, Ramsdale has only made one Premier League appearance since Raya’s league debut for Arsenal, and that was in a match against Brentford, for which Raya was ineligible.
With Arsenal set to face Brentford again this weekend, Ramsdale is expected to start. However, Sutton suggested that there is now no debate over who the number one goalkeeper is at the club.
Sutton acknowledged that there had been speculation from outsiders regarding the Ramsdale/Raya debate. However, he asserted that Arteta has firmly stuck with Raya, who has been exceptional for Arsenal.
Sutton also speculated that Arteta might regret his earlier comments regarding goalkeeper rotation, as the situation has seemingly settled with Raya as the preferred choice.
Raya’s consistent performances have silenced any doubts that arose, particularly after a challenging game against Luton in December. Now, it appears likely that Arsenal will make Raya’s move permanent, especially if his form continues to remain high, suggesting that he could be a fixture at the Emirates even after Ramsdale’s departure.
