Mikel Arteta spoke about the idea of treating the goalkeeping position like an outfield one, after dropping Aaron Ramsdale in favour of David Raya for Arsenal’s match against Everton.
The Gunners boss gave the summer signing his debut between the sticks, and challenged the notion of having an established No. 1 shot-stopper in the team.
I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel Jesus hasn’t started,” said Arteta in his post-match press conference following the 1-0 win at Goodison Park. “He’s won more trophies than anyone, including me, in that dressing room, but they don’t ask why I have not picked him.
It’s something that has been historically done like this, but I cannot have two players like this in one position and not play them. David has tremendous qualities like Aaron has, like Karl [Hein] has, but we have to use them you know.”
The Arsenal boss expanded on his idea about not being afraid to change his goalkeepers should the need arise.
It’s like this,” he said. “I’m a really young manager. I’ve been in this job three and a half years and I have few regrets with what I’ve done.
One of them was that in two occasions, I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes, in two games, in this period, to change the ‘keeper in that moment. But I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it.
But I’m able to take a winger, or a striker off, or put a central defender on to drop to a back-five and hold that result. We drew those games and I was so unhappy.
Someone is going to do it, and maybe it will be. That’s strange? Why? Why not? We have all the qualities in another goalkeeper to do something when something is happening and you want to change momentum. Do it.”
