Arsenal: Ferdinand and Neville warn Arteta of serious squad issue

The competition for Arsenal’s No.1 spot could end up hurting Arteta’s project at Emirates.

Aaron Ramsdale has lost his place as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper since the arrival of David Raya in the summer transfer window.

The former Brentford keeper has clearly become Arteta’s preferred choice for the position. While Ramsdale has insisted that he’s motivated to fight for the No.1 spot, most observers believe the competition between the two goalkeepers only undermines the squad’s stability.

Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand said: “Every goalkeeper that plays in the league around the world, at every level, is 100 per cent certain they are No.1.

“So to change that and flip it on his head and expect a goalkeeper to be okay with that. I just find it really impossible. I think it’s impossible to expect a goalkeeper that has been conditioned for their whole life one way to then flip.”

Ferdinand’s former teammate at Manchester United, Gary Neville, has a similar view. The Sky Sports pundit believes that Ramsdale could eventually ask to leave Arsenal if he fails to reclaim his place in the lineup.

“I do feel there’s a problem brewing here where Ramsdale is going to start knocking on the door saying, ‘get me back in’ and if [Arteta] doesn’t, he’s going to ask to leave,” he said.

He added: “The maximum this will last is a season because the goalkeeper who is not playing or is feeling hard done to will leave.”