Vito Mannone: Mikel Arteta should pick the best and more in-form goalkeeper between David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone has urged Aaron Ramsdale to consider his future at the North London club if manager Mikel Arteta no longer gives him a chance.
The England international has been relegated to the bench since the arrival of his Spain international counterpart David Raya from Brentford in the summer, with just nine appearances to his name across all competitions in 2023-24.
Ramsdale, 25, has been linked with an exit ahead of the January transfer window, with Chelsea and Newcastle United reportedly interested, and Mannone has told Arteta to start selecting his number 1 based on form alone.
“It’s not easy but in Ramsdale’s place I’d have taken it badly,” the former Gunners star told the Sun.
“My advice to him is to keep working. But if Ramsdale’s moment won’t come again, he should look for it elsewhere! There’s not much else he can do.
“The top sides want two great goalies who are ready to play at any moment. I was No 1 and back-up, and I can tell you that when you’re first choice you need the board and the second keeper’s backing.
“When you have two potential first-choice keepers it doesn’t make it any easier for the manager. If Arteta is proud, he sticks with Raya but if he’s clever he picks the best and more in-form keeper.”
Raya has not impressed in the Arsenal colours since his arrival, but he was in fine form during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool last time out, playing comfortably out from the back and getting the basics right having largely struggled with them so far.
However, Ramsdale will be wondering what he has done wrong to lose his starting berth.
Raya has been shaky in most of the appearances he has made for the Gunners, and many pundits have questioned Arteta’s decision to stick with him.
The Arsenal boss is unlikely to change his mind anytime soon, and Ramsdale may not get a chance to reclaim his spot unless the Spaniard gets injured.
Raya showed against Liverpool exactly why Arteta brought him in, displaying his skills as an excellent ball-playing goalie, and he will be looking to finally start impressing regularly going forward.
Ramsdale may need to consider his future at the club if he wants to remain a regular member of the England squad, and an Arsenal exit sooner or later could do both club and player the world of good.
