Revealed: How Aaron Ramsdale has responded to being dropped by Arsenal as David Raya lifts the lid on Gunners’ goalkeeper ‘fight’

Mikel Arteta took the surprising decision to bench his established No.1 for a Premier League meeting with Everton on Sunday. Summer signing Raya duly stepped in and kept a clean sheet in a narrow 1-0 win. He retained his place for a Champions League opener against PSV, with another shut-out secured in a 4-0 victory.

Raya would now appear to be Arsenal’s favoured last line of defence, with the Spaniard saying of how Ramsdale has reacted to an unexpected slip down the pecking order: “He has been great. He is a great team-mate, a leader as well. He is a great lad and a great keeper as well, we are team-mates and that is the main thing. It is something every player has to do (which is) back yourself to get in the team, and that is why I moved to Arsenal.”

Arteta has claimed that he would be prepared to swap goalkeepers in the middle of a game heading forward, with Raya aware that both he and Ramsdale have to make the most of every opportunity they get. He added: “It is a dream come true to play at the highest level so I'm very pleased to make my (Champions League) debut, but the main thing was the result and we got the three points in the end. I've just been selected the last two games - that is just the choice of the gaffer, not my choice and when Aaron comes in, he will need to also fight for the team and to win games.”

Arsenal, who have picked up 13 points from five Premier League games so far in 2023-24, will be back in action on Sunday when taking in a derby date with north London rivals Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.