Aaron Ramsdale will have the chance to reclaim his place as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper when the Gunners face Brentford in their next match.
Ramsdale lost his starting spot at the Emirates to David Raya, and his father has stated that he is not happy. Despite Ramsdale’s strong play, Mikel Arteta chose Raya, believing him to be the superior goalkeeper in recent weeks.
According to The Sun, Ramsdale will start in goal against Brentford because Raya is ineligible to play against his parent club due to Premier League rules that prohibit loan players from competing against their parent clubs in domestic competitions. This provides Ramsdale with an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and possibly stake a claim for a regular starting spot.
Raya has started every Premier League and Champions League game for Arsenal since the September international break, dethroning Ramsdale as the club’s No. 1.
Raya is on loan from Brentford, with the option of making the loan permanent for £30 million next summer, and Premier League rules state that loan players cannot play against their parent clubs.
Aaron Ramsdale will start for Arsenal as Raya will be unable to compete against his former club
Ramsdale will start in goal for the Gunners again on Saturday evening, according to Arteta’s pre-Brentford press conference.
“My job is to try and help people in the very best possible way every day to make him better and give them the best possible chance to fulfill the potential in their career and get to the highest possible position,” Arteta said when asked if there was any expectation on Ramsdale ahead of the Gtech Community stadium.
“There is no expectation with any player.”
Ramsdale has only appeared in the Carabao Cup twice since his last Premier League appearance on September 3, when Arsenal defeated Manchester United 3-2.
One of those games was an away trip to Brentford, where Ramsdale impressed with a string of saves in a 1-0 victory. On November 1, the England international conceded three goals in a Carabao Cup fourth-round loss to West Ham.
Arteta’s only other first-team goalkeeper option is Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein, who has only appeared in one competitive game for Arsenal.
