19 September 2023 , 10:41
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David Seaman has lashed out at Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal manager dropped Aaron Ramsdale from the side that beat Everton 1-0 on Sunday.
Ramsdale, 25, quickly established himself as the Gunners' first-choice goalkeeper after joining the club in 2021, but his position came under scrutiny in the summer after the club acquired the services of David Raya on an initial season-long loan from Brentford.
Arteta handed Raya his debut against the Toffees at Ramsdale's expense over the weekend. And despite weeks of speculation that the Spaniard was open to changing goalkeepers, the decision still left Seaman - one of Arsenal's most iconic shot-stoppers - stunned.
Speaking on The Seaman Says podcast, the 60-year-old said: "Aaron not in goal really shocked me if I’m honest. I find it hard to understand. 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.
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"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.
Join the debate! Who do you think should be Arsenal's No.1: Ramsdale or Raya? Let us know here.
Ramsdale was left on the bench for Sunday's win over Everton (Getty Images)"That’s the only thing that I can think [of]. 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."
Arteta hinted after the game that he could even decide to chop and change goalkeepers during games going forward, indicating that Ramsdale may no longer be his undisputed No.1 His decision to drop the England star also infuriated renowned Arsenal fan Piers Morgan, who lashed out at the Emirates chief on social media.
"I don’t understand what Ramsdale has done to deserve being dropped. Havertz, yes.. but Ramsdale's been consistently superb for us. Why humiliate him? I don’t believe in having two top keepers with neither knowing who's No.1," he posted.
"Nothing against Raya, who is very good, but don’t like the way Ramsdale’s being treated. Has any team ever won the League by rotating two top goalkeepers? I have no idea, but I doubt it."