Brad Friedel has urged Aaron Ramsdale to leave Arsenal this summer and explained why Mikel Arteta favours fellow goalkeeper David Raya.
Ramsdale was Arteta’s No. 1 last season and helped Arsenal challenge for the Premier League title, proving his critics wrong to impress for the Gunners following a £30m move from Sheffield United.
Despite Ramsdale’s largely consistent performances, Arteta opted to sign Raya on loan from Brentford last summer and the Spaniard quickly displaced Ramsdale as first-choice as the Emirates Stadium.
The presence of Raya has limited Ramsdale to just six league appearances this season and Friedel believes it is clear that he should move on in the summer.
Ex-Premier League star Friedel also backed Arteta’s decision to start Raya over Ramsdale, describing both as ‘very talented goalkeepers’.
‘I think the stats back Mikel Arteta’s decision. I mean, it’s close. We’re talking about two fantastic goalkeepers,’ Friedel told Sky Sports.
‘I think when you look at the stats – and they’re non-subjective stats so it’s not just about who we like better – the biggest difference is David Raya’s shot preventing value.
‘It’s remarkable how quick his feet are when he’s coming out for crosses or sweeping up. That really separated him from Aaron Ramsdale and with the way Arsenal play that might be the tipping point of why they prefer Raya.
‘Listen, there’s going to come a time where they are going to have to let Ramsdale go. If Raya is the long-term number one, they’ll have to let Ramsdale go.
‘I think the stats back Arsenal’s faith in Raya and that’s fine, but Ramsdale is too good to be sitting on the bench.
