Arsenal are set to sign David Raya on loan from Brentford as Mikel Arteta eyes competition for first-choice goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale ahead of their Premier League opener
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Premier League season preview: Arsenal
Peter Schmeichel has warned Mikel Arteta that competition in the goalkeeper position could cause a “bad atmosphere in the dressing room” as Arsenal close in on the signing of David Raya.
The Gunners have reached an agreement to sign the Brentford shot-stopper on loan for £3million, with an option to buy for £27m should they wish. That is only an option rather than an obligation and the Bees have agreed a contract extension with Raya in case Arsenal do not activate it.
Raya is set to undergo a medical with the Gunners on Thursday as Arsenal look to ensure the Spaniard is available for their Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest. Many have praised Edu and Arteta for the way they have sown up the deal, but others are not so sure.
Ex-Manchester United ‘keeper Schmeichel has been left perplexed at the choice to sign Raya - and admitted he does not understand why Arsenal need competition for Aaron Ramsdale. Raya’s imminent move is set to follow Matt Turner’s switch to Forest, which was confirmed on Wednesday.
“I absolutely do not get it,” Schmeichel told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I cannot understand how a manager could come to the conclusion that it’s a great thing to have competition for the number one shirt. So, a goalkeeper’s position is very reactive. You cannot create anything on your own, you’ve got to wait for things to happen.
“You’re now asking your goalkeeper to prove that you are better than the other one. That means you have got to go and do stuff, and you don’t want that. That’s the one position on the pitch you just want steady. When you have a competition situation, he also plays that game for himself and for that position. I don’t get it.
David Raya is closing in on a move to Arsenal (
Image:
Getty Images)
“What you do is you put a lot of insecurity into the two of them. At the same time, having two challenging for number one, you are also creating potentially a bad atmosphere in the dressing room because it’s straight up competition between two guys who will either start or not play.
“They need to know if it goes wrong, which it does now and again, everyone makes a mistake and everyone costs a goal that the manager will just say ‘that’s alright mate you’re still my number one’. You need to have that confidence, if you don’t, you cannot perform 100% for the team.”
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