Jamie Carragher thinks Mikel Arteta has a ‘logical choice’ to start David Raya ahead of Aaron Ramsdale when Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

Spurs visit Emirates Stadium on Sunday in an early-season clash between two of the Premier League’s in-form teams. Tottenham sit above Arsenal in the table on goal difference through five games. But both have won four and drawn once as two of the four unbeaten teams left.

A strong defensive record has helped Arsenal to secure 13 of a potential 15 points this term. Only Manchester City (3) have conceded fewer times than Arteta’s side and Liverpool (4) so far. Although Tottenham have also been solid at the back having only shipped five goals yet.

Raya is taking his chance after ousting Ramsdale at Arsenal

The north London rivals have also kept two clean sheets each this season. Tottenham have kept Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth out. While Arsenal have shut Crystal Palace and Everton out. Ramsdale started away at Selhurst Park and Raya started at Goodison Park.

Arteta made the shock decision to drop Ramsdale when Arsenal travelled to Everton to give Raya his Gunners debut. The 28-year-old switched to Emirates Stadium this summer on loan from Brentford. Arsenal paid £3m to secure a season-long move, plus a £27m option to buy.

Raya was amongst the Premier League’s best goalkeepers last season to help the Bees finish the season in ninth. Now, those efforts have made him a Champions League shot-stopper as Arteta kept the two-cap Spain international in his line-up that thrashed PSV Eindhoven 4-0.

Everton rarely tested Raya as Arsenal eked out a 1-0 win last Sunday with Sean Dyche’s side showing little attacking intent. But he had far more to do to deny PSV. Raya ended the night having made four saves and one parry. He also registered four high claims, per WhoScored.

Carragher thinks Raya must start vs Tottenham on Sunday

Carragher thinks it is in part owing to Raya’s ability in the air that Arteta benched Ramsdale and should stick with his compatriot when Arsenal host Tottenham. Only Emiliano Martinez (55) recorded more high claims than Raya (50) last season, per SofaScore, to Ramsdale’s 17.

Carragher wrote for The Telegraph: “If Raya starts this weekend’s north London derby – and on the basis of his first two appearances, there is no reason to leave him out – the debate as to who is the real Arsenal No1 ends.”

The Liverpool hero continued: “For me, it is a logical decision to pick Raya. Put simply, he is a better keeper than Ramsdale. I am not saying Ramsdale is poor or that he does not have [the] potential to improve and enjoy a brilliant career at the highest level.

“The key difference right now is Ramsdale is a top-four keeper, not a title-winning one. Raya was hugely impressive at Brentford and deserves his chance to show what he can do at a club under greater scrutiny and pressure.

“Raya has more of the qualities that Arteta is searching for to find those extra percentages that can make all the difference between first and second. He is superior technically, and calmer on the ball. Last year he stopped more shots than any Premier League goalkeeper.”

Ramsdale, who Arteta pushed Arsenal to sign from Sheffield United for £24m rising to £30m in August 2021, ranked 10th in the Premier League for saves made in 2022/23. He recorded 95 through 38 games for 14 clean sheets to Raya’s 154 during 38 games for 12 clean sheets.

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