“Everyone is gone on international duty, and that’s why i feel this is the right time to come out to the media to tell the world why Arteta is benching me”- Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale breaks silence on why he lost the Number 1 shirt to David Raya

Aaron Ramsdale Breaks Silence on Losing Arsenal Spot to David Raya with Honest Admission

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has candidly addressed his recent loss of the starting spot to David Raya. The England international, who had been Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past two years after displacing Bernd Leno upon his arrival from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, has now found himself on the bench.

Ramsdale was replaced in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup last month during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Everton, with summer signing Raya taking over as the primary shot-stopper. Now, the 25-year-old Ramsdale has opened up about the situation, making a self-deprecating joke in a video with some of his England teammates, indicating his acceptance of the recent changes.

During a light-hearted game of “Carrot in a Box” with Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, Ramsdale’s sense of humor came through. Nketiah remarked on Ramsdale’s competitive nature, saying, “I think that’s going to be his downfall, to be honest, he wants to win too much.”

“I do want to win,” Ramsdale replied, laughing. “I haven’t won much recently.”

The two teammates then burst into laughter, with Ramsdale seemingly referencing his recent benching in favor of Raya. Whether Raya, on loan from Brentford, will retain his starting position remains to be seen as the Gunners prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Raya, the Spanish international, has already made a significant impact, keeping a clean sheet in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. However, his performance wasn’t without criticism; his distribution during the match drew some concerns. On the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville commented, “I was worried about the goalkeeper in the first half – he averted a crisis there. If he concedes a goal in the first half through one of those moments of anxiety, honestly you have seen it go like that. He had to get through that game and he did, otherwise, that could have been a big problem.”

Ramsdale’s honesty and good humor about his current situation highlight his professionalism and team spirit, even as he navigates the challenges of losing his starting position. The upcoming matches will reveal whether Arteta’s decision to favor Raya will continue, or if Ramsdale will have another chance to reclaim his spot between the posts.