Mikel Arteta is very happy with his goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s reaction to being replaced in the starting squad and said that replacing him with David Raya was not an easy decision.<\/p>\n
The North London side signed Raya from Brentford at the end of the summer transfer window on an initial campaign-long loan with an option to ink him permanently after the end of the season, despite Ramsdale inking a new long-term deal in May.<\/p>\n
Raya was the 1st<\/sup> choice in the 2 matches that Mikel Arteta\u2019s team played after the international break \u2013 vs. Everton on Sunday and in the Champions League victory vs. PSV \u2013 keeping a clean sheet in both games.<\/p>\n However, Arsenal’s boss claimed he still thinks about who will play on Sunday in the derby vs. Tottenham.<\/p>\n “It is very difficult with every footballer. And It\u2019s very tough for me to decide who is not playing, but this is the competition, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m paid to do – to make decisions in the best possible way for the club.”<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f \u201cWhen you have to announce the line-up, it\u2019s one of the hardest things. You know players feel valued and happy when they play and when they don\u2019t it\u2019s very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Mikel Arteta says it\u2019s tough leaving out players but football is a team sport at the end of the day. \u26bd\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/VjbOjUEsY8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 22, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n