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David Raya shares what his relationship with Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal was actually like
Mikel Arteta has made some brutal decisions during his time as the Arsenal manager.
Indeed, Arteta released Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Arteta and Aubameyang fell out during their time at the Emirates.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta also released Mesut Ozil at Arsenal after the German fell out of favour.
On top of that, Arteta fell out with Mateo Guendouzi at Arsenal, and he was swiftly sold as well.
However, perhaps the most brutal decision Arteta made at Arsenal was to ditch Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale was a top goalkeeper for a period at Arsenal, and he made the Premier League Team of the Season in 2022/23.
Frustratingly for Ramsdale, in the summer of 2023, David Raya was signed, and, almost immediately, the England international was benched.
Ramsdale would eventually leave the club to join Southampton, but there is no bad blood between Ramsdale and Mikel Arteta.
Speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, David Raya has been discussing his relationship with Ramsdale during this time, and according to the Spaniard, he never actually had any issues with Ramsdale as a person or a player.
David Raya had no issues with Aaron Ramsdale
Raya spoke about his relationship with Ramsdale at Arsenal.
The goalkeeper says that while he took Ramsdale’s place, he never had a problem with the current Southampton ace.
“When I came I took the place, I never had a problem with Aaron and he never had a problem with me. What I always say, and I’ll always say it, goalkeepers are so difficult because it’s one position. You work with your teammates every day, even before the players are coming out. If you’re not playing you need to ask two questions, am I giving it my best? Or is it the manager’s decision?” Raya said.
“If it’s the manager’s decision you can’t have a problem with your teammate, that will just make the group separated and the work will not be the same. If you have that good relationship you can push each other. I never had a problem with a teammate goalie wise.”
David Raya stats compared to Aaron Ramsdale
Mikel Arteta made a bold call when he decided to drop Ramsdale for Raya, but it’s fair to say this call has been justified.
Indeed, Raya has earned a lot of praise since signing for Arsenal, and the stats show that he is better than Ramsdale.
| David Raya at Arsenal | Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal | |
| 77 | Games | 89 |
| 34 | Clean sheets | 32 |
| 62 | Goals conceded | 99 |
| 44% | Clean sheet percentage | 36% |
| 0.8 | Goals conceded per game | 1.12 |
Raya has a better record in terms of clean sheet percentage and goals conceded per game since joining Arsenal, and, ultimately, that’s all that matters.
Ramsdale may have been a fan favourite, but when you’re trying to win the Premier League, marginal gains are so important and bringing in Raya for Ramsdale has made Arsenal a better team, even if they are yet to win any major silverware with Raya in goal.
Mikel Arteta is not scared to make the big calls as Arsenal manager, and he may have some more big decisions to make this summer as Arsenal look to further bolster their squad.