Gary Neville believes the pressure is starting to get to new Arsenal No 1 David Raya and he is increasingly making ‘mistakes’ as he feels the heat.
Raya struggled in Arsenal’s recent Champions League outing against Lens and his confidence took another knock when he was caught out by a mishit cross from Mykhailo Mudryk in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea.
Neville, who was covering that London derby on commentary, feels that the level of scrutiny on Raya since usurping previous No 1 Aaron Ramsdale is beginning to get to the Spaniard.
‘David Raya started his Arsenal career well but then he had a poor Champions League game [against Lens] followed by that first half against Manchester City,’ Neville said during commentary on Sky Sports.
‘Now, this game. It’s getting hot for him. He’s got that look on his face like, “help”.
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‘It’s the toughest position to play and certainly when you’re at one of the biggest clubs in the league, you’re under the most amount of scrutiny – particularly if you’re a goalkeeper.
‘Mikel Arteta has created that, let’s be clear with the Ramsdale and Raya situation. It’s unusual but he says it can work.
‘I’ve never believed it could, and I believe we’re seeing in front of our eyes the challenges that exists because now, there is going to be pressure.
‘Aaron Ramsdale hadn’t done a lot wrong at the start of the season. Raya has now started to make mistakes.’
Ramsdale has made no secret of his frustration at having fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal, not least because he is fearing for his place in England’s squad for next summer’s European Championships.
‘It surprised us all when Aaron Ramsdale was left out of a game a month or so ago,’ Neville added after the match in the Gary Neville Podcast.
‘We thought it might be for a couple of games, but now it looks as though David Raya is No 1. The problem is he’s started to now look nervy and is making mistakes.’
He continued: ‘I do feel there’s a problem brewing here where Ramsdale is going to start knocking on the door saying, “get me back in” and if [Arteta] doesn’t, he’s going to ask to leave.’
More to follow.
