Shaka Hislop criticizes Mikel Arteta for claiming he has two number one goalkeepers, David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale.
Raya has been a regular in Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League teams since his debut, while Ramsdale has only played twice in the Carabao Cup. Hislop thinks this decision creates a problem for Arsenal, especially before their important match against Newcastle on Saturday.
According to the former Newcastle goalkeeper, Arteta’s statement is a big mistake that doesn’t benefit either goalkeeper.
During my time at Newcastle, Kevin Keegan wanted two top goalkeepers, Pavel Srnicek and me, which made me feel uncertain.
Now, at Arsenal, Raya, a talented goalkeeper known for his speed, seems to be holding back and making errors.
“Whether you think Ramsdale is a better goalkeeper or not, that’s another debate. But what we can’t argue is that he was a key figure in a very successful Arsenal side last term.
“Then six games into this season he finds himself out of the team — and now Raya is making mistakes which aren’t really getting punished.
“So it’s just made for a really bad situation. But if I’m Ramsdale, I’m not thinking about moving in January, I’m waiting for my chance — because chances are going to come.”
ARTETA’S WISE DECLAN SIGNING
Hislop commends Arteta for signing Declan Rice, who is poised to rejoin Arsenal’s starting lineup at St James’ Park.
Hislop admitted, “I was mistaken about Rice. I initially questioned the £105 million price tag, but he’s proven his worth. It’s easy to underestimate a defensive midfielder’s value. He’s excelling in a bigger club with greater pressure.”
Despite the positive influence of Rice in Arsenal’s midfield, Hislop hopes that his former team, Newcastle, will take an aggressive approach against Arteta’s squad, rather than adopting a defensive strategy.
Hislop emphasized that Newcastle performs better when they play attacking football, similar to what they did in the previous season, which the fans greatly enjoyed.
He expressed his desire for Newcastle not to sit back and absorb pressure, as they did in their match against Manchester City.