Morning all.
Let’s begin with the information that Arsenal are reportedly trying to make a transfer for Brentford goalkeeper, David Raya.
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal exploring deal to signal Brentford goalkeeper David Raya. No bid but however #BrentfordFC conscious of curiosity. #FCBayern additionally pursuing however 27yo eager to hitch #AFC. #NFFC contemplating Matt Turner; hole in valuations however dialogue ongoing @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/0D69bVZ75Q
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 30, 2023
That is fairly fascinating for a few causes. First, and whereas I’m not going to leap to any massive conclusions right here, does it recommend that maybe Mikel Arteta will not be 100% satisfied by Aaron Ramsdale as his no 1? Raya is a participant we pursued up to now, however at that time Brentford weren’t for budging. Now, with only a yr left on his contract, they’ve a call to make if he received’t prolong: money in, or see him depart on a free.
This could be a part of the explanation we’re after him, however for me it raises some questions on Ramsdale. Proper now, he’s the unquestionable first selection keeper based mostly on the gamers we now have out there. Including somebody like Raya means much more competitors than he has in the intervening time. Which isn’t essentially a foul factor, and it is likely to be a case that the supervisor is eager to use the identical measure of competitors to each place in his squad, nevertheless it’s not all the time the case with goalkeepers.
If you have a look at different sides, Man Metropolis and Liverpool spring to thoughts, the standard of their first selection keeper implies that there’s a giant hole between them and their deputy. I believe there’s a niche between Ramsdale and Matt Turner proper now, however that wouldn’t be wherever close to as apparent as a Ramsdale/Raya duo. We all know that Arteta actually likes Ramsdale, he wooed him to deliver him right here within the first place, and did so understanding that this was a deal that was open to query by many, followers and pundits alike. Since then, he has proved loads of individuals fallacious. He’s a participant I like, and one I believe can get higher given his age.
It’s not past the realms of risk that the supervisor thinks having two high quality goalkeepers is necessary for the way in which he needs to construct his squad. We all know he’s bought loads of concepts, and a home/European keeper system wouldn’t be a significant shock or something – even when that hasn’t all the time labored for me after we’ve tried it up to now. The opposite factor to keep in mind right here is that Raya has a robust relationship with goalkeeping coach Iñaki Caña, they labored collectively at Brentford, and this can be one thing that’s driving this curiosity. On condition that he additionally really useful Alex Runarsson, you is likely to be just a little cautious of that (I’m), nevertheless it’s in all probability a part of it.
The secondary facet to that is the way forward for Matt Turner. There are already some rumours about Nottingham Forest, and it wouldn’t be a giant shock if he left. He’s first selection for the USMNT proper now, however with out common soccer, that’s absolutely not going to be the case indefinitely. I additionally thought it was just a bit unusual how, given his place along with his nationwide facet, he wasn’t current in any respect through the US tour. I do know he had performed within the Gold Cup and wanted some holidays, however with Arsenal within the USA, it appeared just a little odd to me he wasn’t concerned in any respect.
I believe Turner was already a season the place his solely enjoying time would have been within the EFL and Carabao Cups. With Arsenal again within the Champions League, these are video games that Ramsdale would have performed, so it’s not as if he’d even have these Europa League group video games. With two gamers like Ramsdale and Raya forward of him, if this deal went by, he’d solely have performed attributable to some sort of damage disaster, so it does really feel as if he must make a transfer for the sake of his personal profession.
General, there’s lots to try to unpack from this curiosity, and perhaps too there’s an angle we’re not conscious of at this second in time. Arteta’s plans typically don’t make full sense till you see them executed, so if this one does occur, it will likely be fascinating to see the way it performs out. I additionally assume that the price-tag of £40m will not be one thing we are able to meet till we promote just a few extra, so that is removed from imminent.
Proper, let’s depart it there for this morning. James and I can be recording an Arsecast Additional for you just a little in a while this morning. Maintain a watch out for the decision for questions on Twitter @gunnerblog and @arseblog on Twitter with the hashtag #arsecastextra – or for those who’re on Arseblog Member on Patreon, depart your query within the #arsecast-extra-questions channel on our Discord server.
For now, have a superb one.
