“I regret not playing Aaron Ramsdale” — Mikel Arteta

“It is a regret that I have and my feeling is to get everyone engaged in the team,” Mikel Arteta on not involving Aaron Ramsdale.

A lot of pundits have predicted a crisis to be on the horizon over Arsenal’s signing of David Raya from Brentford as a replacement for Gunners’ Aaron Ramsdale going into the 2023/24 season.

Judging from Mikel Arteta’s comments in his post-match press conference, the likes of Gary Neville may be justified in their analysis of the controversial move.

Speaking after the 1-0 victory away to Everton at the Goodison Park, Mikel Arteta reveals he may be tempted to give both David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale game time in the same match moving forward.

According to the Spaniard, this is a move that has being in his thoughts ever since, disclosing he often times in games has pondered substituting his goalkeeper in the middle of games.

The substitution of a goalkeeper in a competitive fixture such as a league game is a decision that has rarely been used by the manager in games, unless provoked into action by an injury or a suspension.

However, Mikel Arteta has revealed he intends to go unorthodox soon by substituting his goalkeepers for tactical purposes.

Arsenal were able to craft out a 1-0 win at Goodison thanks to Leandro Trossard delivering a shot in goal from a Bukayo Saka assist to hand the Gunners vital 3 points in their charge for the premier league title.

In the tie, David Raya kept a clean sheet, improving his chances at staying on in goal for Arsenal.

Speaking on his regret for not bringing on Aaron Ramsdale, Mikel Arteta said:

“I am a really young manager and I have only been in the job for three and a half years and I have few regrets in what we have done.

“One of them is that on two occasions I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes in two games in this period to change the keeper in that moment and I didn’t do it.

“I didn’t have the courage to do it. And we drew those games and I was so unhappy and someone is going to do it (soon) and maybe it [the reaction] will be, ‘oh! That is strange. Why?’

“Why not? Tell me why not. You have all the qualities in another goalkeeper and you want to do something to change the momentum, do it.

“It is a regret that I have and my feeling is to get everyone engaged in the team. They have to play regardless of the competition. Do it. That is my message,” Arteta said.