GARY NEVILLE has been accused of having an “agenda” against David Raya following his criticism of the goalkeeper.
Raya started life as Arsenal’s apparent No1 well after replacing Aaron Ramsdale but has had some Gunners fans on edge as of late.
His deflected clearance off Julian Alvarez in the first half of Sunday’s match with Manchester City prompted Neville to brand him a “nervous wreck” and “jittery”.
He said: “I can spot a keeper a mile off that’s a nervous wreck and there’s one right in front of you.
“The mistake in midweek, he’s carried into this game. He’s not sharp enough and he’s very lucky.”
Neville’s commentary didn’t sit well with former Wolves midfielder Karl Henry, who questioned the motives behind his criticism of the Spaniard.
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He wrote on X: “Has Gary Neville got it in for Raya? Or is he just doing his best to get Ramsdale back in?
“When a commentator has an agenda, they influence millions of fans worldwide. It’s really poor.”
Henry also took umbrage with Neville’s criticism of Raya after his opposite number Ederson was playing diagonal passes, a number of which he also played.
He continued: “Ederson. Hits a diag and he’s saying Raya is rocky whilst Ederson is hitting 50-yard diags.
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“Raya hit two better diags and he doesn’t say a thing.”
Henry, 40, also likened Neville’s criticism to a public “assassination” of his abilities.
He added: “I’m no Arsenal fan and rate both Ramsdale and Raya highly. But Neville’s assassination of Raya is poor and unfair.
“Hope he realises how damaging to the player it can be and stops.”
Raya ended up keeping a clean sheet as Arsenal ran out 1-0 winners at the Emirates.
A deflected 84th-minute strike from Gabriel Martinelli sealed the three points for the Gunners and fired them joint top of the table with bitter rivals Tottenham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
