Mikel Arteta has opened up on the ‘difficult’ decision to drop Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal, but insists he must make a decision to benefit the team.
Ramsdale started Arsenal’s first four fixtures of the Premier League campaign and has been the club’s first-choice goalkeeper across the last two seasons, but the England international has since lost his place in the team to summer signing David Raya.
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Raya has recorded consecutive clean sheets in wins over Everton and PSV Eindhoven across the last week and the Spaniard is expected to start when Arsenal take on Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday.
Arteta has discussed the challenge of making each of his squad feel ‘wanted’, but admits he must make difficult decisions to benefit the team.
“I care about every player that isn’t playing, but it’s my job to make a decision in the best possible way for the team,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference.
“He’s been supportive and great around the place, that’s what I expect from my players. So far he has been really good.
“Am I comfortable [making the decision]? I’m not sure. In your stomach it’s hard. When players don’t play it’s difficult. You want them to feel wanted but it’s tough.
“We have seen how important it is for everybody to feature over the season.”
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