PREMIER LEAGUE legend Frank Leboeuf has blasted “stubborn” Mikel Arteta for sticking with David Raya.
The Arsenal boss dropped long-time No 1 Aaron Ramsdale for the former Brentford keeper in recent weeks.
That’s despite the England international shining in the Gunners’ unlikely title challenge last season and signing a new contract in the summer.
Ramsdale started the new campaign between the sticks and avoided any serious blunders – only to see himself dropped for Arsenal’s win at Everton last month.
Raya – signed on a free transfer from the Bees in August – took his spot, and hasn’t given it back since.
That’s despite the Spaniard looking shaky at times, especially in the first half of Sunday’s victory against Manchester City on Sunday
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Many Gunners fans have called for Ramsdale to get his spot back.
But former Chelsea ace Lebouef reckons Arteta is too stubborn to perform a U-turn.
Speaking to ESPN, he said: “Arteta has to be stubborn because he made a mistake in my point of view so he has to carry on with Raya.
“Because Arteta made that decision he has to stick with it otherwise he’s going to lose all the credit he made on the decision he made. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
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“Ramsdale was the goalkeeper of the season last season but it wasn’t what he wanted.
“I think he wants to copy Guardiola with what he did with Manchester and getting the right goalkeeper who can dictate the game from behind and be the first good passer.
“But you have to have a goalkeeper and if he doesn’t catch the ball?
“The stats about clean sheets don’t reflect what Raya does because maybe the defenders are better now than when they started the season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
