Mikel Arteta backs his decision to start ‘tremendous’ David Raya over Aaron Ramsdale for Arsenal’s win over Everton and insists he could substitute the keepers DURING games

Arteta suggested that he would be open to substituting keepers during games
David Raya made his first start for Arsenal and kept a clean sheet for the Gunners
Arsenal boss praised his team for an ‘incredible’ performance against Everton

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta revealed he could substitute his goalkeepers during future Premier League matches after his side’s 1-0 win at Everton.

Arteta handed summer loan signing David Raya his debut in place of England keeper Aaron Ramsdale at Goodison Park and the Spaniard saw little action as Leandro Trossard’s solitary second-half strike proved decisive.

When asked about his decision to start with Raya, Gunners head coach Arteta said: ‘What I want is that the players that deserve to play will play.’

‘The same rationale about why Fabio (Vieira) played here or Eddie (Nketiah) or Gabriel Jesus.

‘I haven’t had a single question on why Gabriel Jesus didn’t start. He has won more trophies than anybody else, including me, in that dressing room.’

Upon David Raya’s move from Brentford there was an inevitability he would start at some point

Fabio Vieira’s recent Arsenal performances saw him rewarded with a start at Goodison Park

Leandro Trossard’s goal helped Arsenal end their long-running poor form at Goodison Park

David Raya(right) will make his first Arsenal start with the former Brentford star replacing Aaron Ramsdale for the Gunners’ clash with Everton

The signing of Brentford loanee keeper David Raya has put Aaron Ramsdale’s secure spot as the No.1 in hot water, as Raya will now compete with him for a place in the starting XI.

Starting Raya today sparked a debate online, with Piers Morgan taking to X, formerly Twitter, to claim that boss Mikel Arteta ‘humiliated’ Aaron Ramsdale with the keeper swap.

Arteta, whose side were far from convincing as they extended their unbeaten start to the season with a fourth league win, said he would be prepared utilise two goalkeepers in one match.

‘I cannot have two players in each position and not play them,’ he said. ‘David has tremendous qualities, like Aaron has, like Karl (Hein) has and we have to use them.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said: ‘I am a really young manager and I have only been in the job for three and a half years and I have few regrets in what we have done.

‘One of them is that on two occasions I felt after 60 minutes and 85 minutes in two games in this period, to change the keeper in that moment and I didn’t do it. I didn’t have the courage to do it. But I am able to take a winger, or a striker and put a central defender back and go to a back five to hold that result.

‘And we drew those games and I was so unhappy and someone is going to do it and maybe it (the reaction) will be, ‘oh! That is strange. Why?’

‘Why not? Tell me why not. You have all the qualities in another goalkeeper and you want to do something to change the momentum, do it.

David Raya started in goal for Arsenal, replacing the dropped Aaron Ramsdale for the match

Eddie Nketiah retained his place up front, with Gabriel Jesus starting the clash at Goodison Park on the bench

Sean Dyche (L) had a full bench to utilise, while Mikel Arteta changed up his goalkeeper

Trossard’s strike triggered jubilant scenes as Arteta’s outfit finally breached a resilient defence

‘It is a regret that I have and my feeling is to get everyone engaged in the team. They have to play regardless of the competition. Do it. That is my message.’

Despite a dogged performance from Sean Dyche’s side, Arteta praised his side for a solid defensive display.

‘I think we gave very little away, they haven’t created a single chance. It is about the fight. I was pleased with the way we played. We were really solid defensively as well.’

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring early in the 19th minute, though his goal was disallowed shortly after. The VAR decision ruled out the goal as offside, taking the scores back to 0-0.

Gary Neville said he was ‘confused’ about why Arsenal saw a first-half goal against Everton ruled out for offside on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Nketiah touched the ball to Fabio Vieira who set up Gabriel Martinelli for a curling right-footed finish into the bottom-right of Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Everton themselves were direct with their play but failed to test Raya too often in the away goal

But following a VAR check, it was ruled out, as Nketiah was judged to have strayed offside in the build-up phase, before making the pass that led to the goal – although the ball looks to have taken a nick off Everton’s Beto.

Arteta said: ‘The first goal should have been allowed. It comes off the opponent, I don’t know why they’ve done it. That could have changed the game.

Shortly after, Martinelli was substituted off after going down injured, though Arteta confirmed that the Brazilian winger ‘felt something in his hamstring so he will need to be assist.’

Arsenal host PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday before their North London Derby against Tottenham in the Premier League.

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