Legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has weighed in on Gunners boss Mikel Arteta's decision to drop Aaron Ramsdale for David Raya in September.

Ramsdale was a prominent first team choice as the North Londoners ran moneybags Manchester City close for the Premier League title last season.

The former Sheffield United keeper had established himself as No1 between the sticks since September 2021 - prior to Arteta controversially deciding to sign Raya on loan from Brentford during the summer. 

The decision prompted Gunners icon Wenger to discuss the matter, urging Ramsdale to keep working hard in training in a bid to regain the prized first choice goalkeepers' shirt.

Speaking on beIN SPORTS, the Frenchman said: "Personally I like Ramsdale.

"If I was in his position I would not give up. I believe he has the chance to come back into the team."

When asked if he thought Ramsdale was better than Raya, Wenger responded: "Better… better… I don’t know if he’s better. I just think Ramsdale has made decisive saves in the games last season.

"They were not happy maybe with his feet, his distribution."

The long-serving Frenchman, who guided the Gunners for 22 years insisted making saves in a goalkeeper's repetoire is far more important than mere passing ability.

When asked if distribution or shot-stopping is more important, Wenger replied: "To stop balls from going in the back of the net. You know, on the other hand, when you’re in this position, you always – it happened to me as well many times – you have a good team but you want to improve the team.

"And then you look and think, 'what can I improve there?'

"And you think maybe the distribution from the back. It happened to me the same with the centre-backs, you want a guy who has better distribution from the back but then you realise he is less good defensively and his first job is to defend."

Arteta has insisted repeatedly that he does not have a  'No.1' keeper - but Wenger disagrees.  

When asked if you need a designated No1 netminder, Wenger responded firmly: "Always.

"That’s my belief, I don’t believe in rotation with goalkeepers, I don’t believe in a lack of clarity of the hierarchy with goalkeepers. That doesn’t work."