Peter Schmeichel has criticised Mikel Arteta for dropping Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Despite playing a key role in Arsenal’s title charge last year, the England international has been brutally replaced just weeks into the new campaign. Arteta signed David Raya on loan from Brentford but the deal is expected to become permanent at the end of the season.
Ramsdale started the first four games of the season but has not featured since the 3-1 win over Manchester United earlier this month. Criticism of Arteta increased after the Spaniard left Ramsdale out for the Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven.
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The Gunners boss has played down the saga, insisting he needs two quality players in every position. “He brings the qualities for our game model,” Arteta said about Raya’s arrival. “It’s very simple, we want two players per position. You see what happened to Jurrien (Timber) and that could happen to our goalkeeper.
“It recently happened to (Real Madrid’s) Thibaut Courtois so we have to be prepared. We have to be prepared and we have to be proactive so now we have two excellent goalkeepers who fit our style.”
But former United goalkeeper Schmeichel believes the plan is destined to fail. Speaking to Premier League Productions, the former shot-stopper claimed having two players battling for the jersey will only create friction.
"We debate this Raya-Ramsdale situation a lot, and I only get that situation if Arteta thinks Raya is a better goalkeeper,” Schmeichel said. “That's the only way I can find some kind of sense in it.
“I think having the competition between two goalkeepers will just create situations in the games where they will have to go and prove themselves. That's the one thing you don't want from your goalkeepers. I don't see the benefit from a manager's point of view.
“I don't see that it will make any of them better because the goalkeeping position is a reactive position. All you can do is wait for something to happen and then you react to it.
“So you can't go and change anything. Basically, you have someone who has full confidence. Okay, if you make seven mistakes, at some point you might change it, but sometimes you just can't do anything other than what's presented to you.”
