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ESPN pundit has spotted ‘early signs’ that Arsenal could have a big ‘problem’ soon
Steve Nicol says he’s spotted ‘early signs’ that David Raya could become a real probleꦓm for Arsenal soon.
The pundit has bꩵeen speaking on and believes Raya has a tendency to ‘flap’ at crosses.
Raya has come under pressure over the past week after taking Aaron Ramsdale’s place as Arsenal’s number-one last month.
The Spaniard put in a shaky display🌼 at Stamford Bridge over the weekend after he was at fault for Mykhaylo Mudryk’s goal in the 2-2 draw.♊
The 28-year-old was caught off his line by Mudr🅠yk’s attempted cross and nearly gifted Cole Palꦇmer a goal in the game.
Arsenal picked u🍌p a 2-1✨ win at Sevilla last night and Raya once again started from the off.
But Nicol spotted a moment in the final stages of the game that has caused him so♑me concern over Raya.
Nicol has spotted signs that Arsenal could have a big ‘problem’ with Raya
Raya nearly punched the ball into hi✱s own net in the final moments of the 2-1 win over Sev🅘illa.
The goalkeeper came out the claim a cross but mistimed his punch and was fortunate t⛦o see it narrowly go over the crossbar.
And Nicol feels that if R▨aya continues to struggle with crosses, it could affect both William Saliba and Gabriel M🌳agalhaes.
“I think if he continues to flap at cross𒐪es [that] come into the box and gets himself in bad positions like Shaka [Hislop] thought he did 🔯for the Mudryk cross at the weekend then I think it’s going to have an affect on Saliba and Gabriel because their starting position is going to change,” the pundit said.
“They’re now thinking crosses into the box, we haven’t got Aaron Ramsdale who is 6ft4 and a big impo🃏sing goalkeeper, that makes a defender’s job different. When you know your keeper has got that authority in the♌ box then it makes your job slightly different.
“When you have a keeper who is not particularly good in t🦄hat area, as a defensive unit you might have toဣ change your mindset a bit.
“I think the concern is, and we’re a long way from it, that his inadequacy from these 🍃balls in could start seeping through. There are early signs that this could be a problem.”
Raya excelled at c𝔍laiming crosses during his time at Brentford but he 🎶seems to be struggling for confidence slightly at the moment.
Thꦬat could be 🌳down to playing in a new system at Arsenal where he’s also expected to play out from the back.
But Nicol makes a great point that Raya has looked far from assured over the past co💦uple of weeks.🍃
It will be interesting to see if Aaron Ramsdale can force his way back into the side over the course 🐼of the campaign. Arteta 𒁃seems intent on sticking with Raya for the time being though.
Yet, if the former Brentford man continues to🌳 make mistakes, Ramsdale could get 🍌another run in the side sooner rather than later.