Mikel Arteta makes ruthless Arsenal decision as first-team player set to be dropped after international break

Mikel Arteta has made a ruthless decision regarding the first-team future of one of his key players, it has been claimed.

Arsenal spent over £200million this summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, while shot-stopper David Raya arrived on an initial season-long loan from Brentford, with the potential for a permanent deal next summer.

Raya’s arrival in particular caused a stir, given the impressive form of first-choice keeper Aaron Ramsdale across the past two seasons. the England star is hugely popular among Arsenal fans and was last term named in the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League team of the year.

But according to the Mirror, Arteta is planning to give Raya a chance to stake his claim, There is reportedly a feeling that it is only a matter of time before Arteta gives Raya a chance this term.

Arteta is said to be a fan of Raya’s ability to play out from the back. In turn, there is a clear chance the Spaniard will get an opportunity to make his Arsenal debut in the Carabao Cup on September 27, ironically against Brentford, his parent club.

While Premier League rules dictate that Raya can not play against the Bees, in the Carabao Cup loan players can play against their parent club as long as they get permission, which Brentford are likely to grant.

Ramsdale only signed a new contract with Arsenal in May but is said to be aware of the threat of Raya.

Amid skepticism upon Raya’s arrival, Arteta said there is “nothing wrong” with bringing extra competition in goal.

The Arsenal boss explained last month: “To have two excellent goalkeepers is great - there's nothing wrong with it. We want to be better every single day and to be better the environment has to change and be better.

"We tend to always be at a certain level because it's in our nature - when you change the environment and the environment is to be 100 per cent every day, believe me, the level is going to increase.

“I've seen that close up with my own eyes with the players that we have now, compared to the players we had two years ago. If we want to be better, we have to create that environment. [He brings] better qualities for our game model, it’s very simple.

“We want two players per position that can do that. You need to be prepared because the question will be ‘What is it, two goalkeepers of this size?’ And if Aaron was to sustain a cruciate injury, then what do you say? So, we have to be prepared, we have to be proactive.”

Topics: Football, Arsenal, Premier League, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsdale

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.