Gary Neville agrees with ‘terrible’ verdict on Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal transfer decision

Gary Neville has agreed with another pundit over the goalkeeping situation at Arsenal following the signing of David Raya.

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal made a surprising decision to sign Raya on a loan-to-buy deal this summer after an impressive season of last from Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale was one of the most consistent performers for the Gunners last term, and he was handed a new contract as a result.

But despite that apparant vote of confidence, Arteta has moved to add competition for the number one spot.

Raya is a starting-level goalkeeper who will be expecting game time this season, and that adds the possibility of complications within the squad, with Arteta now having to disappoint one of Raya and Ramsdale. So far, Ramsdale has been the starter this season, but that doesn’t mean problems don’t lie in wait down the line.

That’s something Alan Hutton pointed out when speaking to Football Insider, saying: “If you are Ramsdale at this moment in time having just signed a new deal and the club bring in a new goalkeeper who is going to be number one, how does he feel? Terrible, I imagine.

“The only thing I can think of that Raya is good with his feet, his distribution is good. This is a team that is arguably going to try and win the Premier League so you need a strong squad so that could be the reason.“

Sky Sports pundit made a similar comment when speaking as part of the coverage for Arsenal’s narrow win over Crystal Palace. Neville added: “I’m not a fan of competition for goalkeepers. I think you need a clear No.1 and then a clear No.2.” Raya has joined Arsenal on a £3million loan deal, with the Gunners holding the option to buy for £27million, taking the total deal worth up to a potential £30million.