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I’m of the opinion that Ramsdale is a better keeper than Raya, but I also agree that dropping Raya for a few ball playing mistakes is not the right message to send
To wind it back a bit, one of the things that was talked about a fair bit in the later phases of last season was the shift in Ramsdale’s passing to something much more conservative: fewer short balls through the press, more hoofing and less precision in middle and long distance, etc.
Arteta wants our players to take risks in the buildup. It’s why he bought Thomas Partey and built around him as our 6; it’s why he bought Zinchenko; it’s why he bought Raya; it’s why he bought Rice, who is even better at carrying the ball forward (once he gets going) than Thomas. He understands that excessively safe buildup play is a recipe for sterile, ineffectual possession, and that breaking the opposing press is a great way to generate mismatches in the attacking third-- provided we also progress rapidly when we do.
He’s not going to drop Raya for those errors of ambition any more than he’ll drop Zinchenko.
Yep. There’s a clip that I always think of and it’s pep a few years ago in training yelling at his players and he’s says something like “the one thing I hate is when you don’t want the ball” and then he says something like “I want you to crave the ball, you have permission to make a mistake”
Maybe Ramsdale is better at some things.
However, I think the reason Raya starts is that he is mentally stronger and willing to play the risky style that Arteta is asking of his GK. Ramsdale even admitted he couldn’t do it.
Xhaka’s comments after that Newcastle game were pointed at Ramsdale more than anyone. He was too scared to follow the gameplan.
I love Ramsdale’s personality and everything, but it’s down to him to now push himself and find the maturity and courage to reach his potential. This is what it takes to be a top keeper now. You can’t stay on your line and hoof it.
I don’t think it’s a settled competition. Ramsdale has it in him to claw it back. But he needs to be able to do what the coaches ask.
Better in what way?