Lee Dixon issues verdict on Arsenal's David Raya vs Aaron Ramsdale debate

Lee Dixon has weighed in on the debate over the number one goalkeeper position at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta and Edu made the controversial decision to sign David Raya ahead of this season, snapping him up on a loan deal with an obligation to buy.

The Spaniard endured a less than ideal start after replacing Aaron Ramsdale as number one, but he has since discovered his best form, keeping Ramsdale at bay.

Raya returned for the Champions League clash with FC Porto on Tuesday, though, and he provided heroics in the penalty shootout to help Arsenal progress to the quarter-finals. On the back of those heroics, Arsenal favourite Dixon has told BetVictor: "All goalkeepers need performances like David Raya’s last night, it was great for him to be the penalty shootout hero in that manner”.

"I don’t think David Raya needs that performance as recognition in his battle against Aaron Ramsdale as that battle had already been won with him. I think that’s been made clear this season. He’s now just got to make sure from the team’s point of view he keeps his form and doesn’t make any mistakes, which isn’t easy being a goalkeeper!”

Arsenal boss Arteta also praised Raya, saying after the game: "That’s one part of the preparation that we’ve done in the last few days. A big credit to the coaches, and the goalkeeping coach for all the way that they’ve done it, and at the end, we got rewarded. “What [David has] done through the game as well, how composed he looks, how secure – it’s the first big game that he’s played in his career in the Champions League. In the end, he looked that way and the way the other boys took the penalties, the body language, the composure, the quality, it was second to none. We all deserve a few days off and recharge the batteries. 90 per cent of the squad will be on international duty afterwards and there we go, we go again.”