Could be worse…
Arsenal can choose between Ramsdale and Raya
While Man U have to choose between Onana and Bayinder
Could be worse…
Arsenal can choose between Ramsdale and Raya
While Man U have to choose between Onana and Bayinder
Dude’s dad isn’t helping
They’re both obviously good keepers - but I feel like this situation could bring out the worst in both of them
Unless Raya is a mentality monster - he must be going out there more nervous than normal - and the media and many fans are just waiting to pounce on him making mistakes
Similarly, Ramsdale must be torturing himself, and is also likely to be more nervous and less fluid than normal when given a chance
If Ramsdale doesn’t get his place back, then he’s gonna want to move - and that’s also going to cause a media-fest and more instability in the dressing room and squad
Maybe it’s all worth it in your eyes because you think he is a problem - but many people don’t believe he was a problem that needed addressing and that all this drama was unnecessary
If Raya comes through it all then credit to him
Ramsdale was literally the best keeper in the league last season - Arsenal don’t look as good so far this season and Raya has already had a bunch of dodgy moments and major mistakes
It’s also just terrible management - if Raya has a dodgy period (as is normal), the pressure on him from the media will become insane
Similarly, if Ramsdale is thrown back in for some reason, he’ll feel totally different out there, and way more likely to make an error or two
Ramsdale will probably now also be the subject of a lengthy transfer saga, as Arteta tries to stop him leaving for a rival - so yet more media attention and dressing room instability
There was just no need to create any of this drama
Xhaka and Ramsdale were absolutely key to the character of the team last season - something Arsenal has lacked for over a decade
Massive risk to bin them both - much more to team building than comparing stats
I mean that’s obviously true - but squad and man management is a tricky and subtle business
That’s why good man managers are so rare - and these kinds of situations can cause all kinds of problems, that’s just the way it is
And the media is there, literally just waiting for Raya to have a nightmare game - sucks, but you have to be aware of that kind a shit