Arsenal legend David Seaman says ‘he can’t get his head around’ why Mikel Arteta is rotating his goalkeepers, saying it’s ‘unfair’ on Aaron Ramsdale.
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Arteta made several changes to his side for Sunday’s clash at Everton, with Ramsdale notably dropped for summer signing David Raya to make his debut at Goodison Park.
The new keeper kept a clean sheet, though had very little to do, as the Gunners beat the Toffees 1-0 thanks to a sublime strike from Leandro Trossard.
The decision to change keepers was one that many though could happen after Arteta shockingly signed Raya on loan from Brentford, though the call has divided fans and pundits alike given how Ramsdale has done little wrong since moving to the Emirates two years ago.
Many expected, the England international to keep his place in the Premier League, with the Spaniard given a go in the Champions League and cup competitions, with Seaman stumped by Arteta’s logic.
‘Aaron not in goal really shocked me if I’m honest. I find it hard to understand,’ the legendary Arsenal keeper said on the Seaman Says podcast.
‘I still can’t get my head around if they’re going to be swapping and chopping and changing the goalkeeper. I don’t like that from what it does at the back because the players have to get used to two different goalkeepers.
‘But I think the bigger question is: Who plays Wednesday [against PSV] because it’s UEFA Champions League and neither of them have played in it. I think that’ll be a telling point as to who’s going to continue.
‘David Raya’s got loads of experience and is good quality. He’s going to want to play, he’s going to need to play. You can’t keep a goalkeeper like that as a number two for a long period because if Aaron gets injured David needs to be up to speed.
‘That’s the only thing that I can think. There’s a lot to look at going forward as to why he’s done this but at the moment for me it’s really hard to work out. I’ve never seen this before.’
Seaman also added that he thinks Ramsdale will be ‘disappointed’ by Arteta’s decision and doesn’t see how Arteta will be able to effectively rotate the two shot-stoppers, saying: ‘It’s weird because Aaron’s not played badly at all.
‘He’s played well and he’s coming off the back of a win with England up in Scotland in which he was brilliant out from the back. He didn’t have many shots to save but is coming off a high and then to receive the news that he’s not playing must have been quite disappointing for him.
‘This is his third season, he’s established and you’re expecting to carry on as number one until he has a couple of dodgy games but I never saw this coming. It’ll be tough for him because he’s only 25 don’t forget.
‘It depends on what happens next. Is he still gonna chop and change when both of them are playing really well? Or is he going to wait for one to make a mistake? But then that’s a little bit unfair because Aaron’s not made any mistakes and he’s left him out.’
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