FA rule means Aaron Ramsdale to be selected as first choice Arsenal keeper

FA rules means Mikel Arteta will not be able to select David Raya for a forthcoming Premier League fixture - find out more



FA rule means Aaron Ramsdale to be selected as first choice Arsenal keeper

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya


While Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta continued to ignore the ever-growing clamour to re-install Aaron Ramsdale as his No1 keeper this week, FA rules mean the Gunners coach will be forced to reasses the situation next month. 

While Brentford loanee David Raya was still selected as the North Londoners first choice netminder for the Champions League clash in Sevilla this week, the 28-year-old still has plenty of work to do in convincing many supporters that he should become the club's long-term shotstopper.

Following another underwhelming performance at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, during Arsenal's vital 2-1 victory over Sevilla - including nearly punching the ball into his own net at the death - Raya has yet to show the world of his undoubted talent.

While no-one ever wants an Arsenal player to do badly in the red and white (and black goalie's top), the fact is Ramsdale can feel hard done by, after losing his place, despite doing little wrong.  

However, the England international is set to get his chances very soon.

The Carabao Cup tie against West Ham United is next week, with a real possibilty that Ramsdale will feature, as Arteta's League Cup keeper.

Yet, that's not all. Premier League loan rules emphatically prevent a player from featuring against his parent club - meaning Ramsdale is surely to feature against against Brentford at the G-Tech Community Stadium on November 25.

This is because Raya will be deemed as being ineligible, which wasn't the case when the two sides met in the cup last month.

This siutation also means that if Ramsdale has only made one appearance heading into the capital derby against the Bees from the west, he could also get the nod to underline to Arteta that he should also be selected as No1 choice for the run of crucial Premier League and Champions League fixtures that follow - including Lens at the Emirates on November 29, along with Wolves on Saturday, December 2, also in North London as well as Luton at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday, December 5.

Who knew having two top quality keepers could be so problematic in terms of selection...?


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