Arsenal defender Ben White has admitted that on-loan goalkeeper David Raya has not had an easy start at the Emirates.
The Spaniard joined on a season-long loan from Brentford and promptly replaced regular goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup. However, Raya’s error-prone performances have prompted demands for Ramsdale to return to the starting lineup.
Raya was notably responsible in the October games against Newcastle United and Chelsea, as well as two goals scored by Luton Town in their 4-3 defeat to Arsenal. Nonetheless, the Spaniard has the backing of White, who said (according to Mirror):
“David has excellent talents, which is why he plays for Arsenal. He’s come in, had a couple difficult moments, but has proved that he can recover and play so brilliantly. Some of the saves he’s made were fantastic, so he’s done really well.”
Raya has nine clean sheets in 21 appearances across competitions, with 19 goals conceded. Arsenal are third in the Premier League after 21 games, five points behind leaders Liverpool (48).
The Arsenal manager rejects deals in January
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has said that the squad would not sign any players during the next January transfer window.
The Spanish manager acknowledged that Arsenal’s roster is among the “thinnest,” but he also mentioned the team’s failure to bring in the necessary players this month.
Fabrizio Romano (via TNT Sports), a transfer expert, claims that Arteta brought up the team’s lack of action in January.
“It was impossible to complete any January agreements. We did not have the ability to enhance the team in the ways that we believe we should. So we decided not to do anything yet. We have one of the league’s smallest rosters, for sure.”
🚨 Arteta: “It wasn't possible to do any January deals. We didn't have capacity to improve the team in the way that we think we want to improve it. So we decided not to do something yet”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 29, 2024
“We have one of the thinnest squads in the league, that's for sure”, told @tntsports. pic.twitter.com/HBUukoroiF
The Gunners are still in just two competitions, having dropped both domestic cups. They face Porto in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.