Raya speaks out on Ramsdale Arsenal battle as duo fight for Spurs start

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David Raya admits he does not know if his performance in the Champions League was enough to earn him a place in the Arsenal goal for the north London derby. The Spaniard was given a surprise debut in the game at Everton last Sunday just weeks after his loan move from Brentford.

He then kept his place for the 4-0 romp against PSV but manager Mikel Arteta insists he will continue to choose his goalkeeper on merit, game-by-game, the same as any outfield position. In order to build confidence and understanding at the back, conventional wisdom says that managers designate a more permanent No 1.

But Raya is excited by the fact that Arsenal are in the almost unique position of having two top-notch goalkeepers competing for the shame shirt. “I understand that and I think it is the first time that two top goalkeepers are in the same team so that is just part of football now,” the goalkeeper on loan from Brentford said.

“The gaffer wants two top players for each position and that is what we have to work with. I have played the last two games and now we see what happens on Sunday.” Arteta has even indicated that he would even consider a change of goalkeeper during the game for tactical reasons rather than injury and Raya is certainly not one to kick up a fuss about that.

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“Those are his words,” he said. “That is his choice as well. He is the gaffer, he is the boss so we would have to deal with that.” With an England international goalkeeper already in the side it was always a gamble to move from a Brentford side where Raya was guaranteed a place week-in, week-out.

The last Premier League game he missed before the opening match of the season had been 19 months earlier. But he immediately felt comfortable at Arsenal – even from Ramsdale himself. “Settling in was very easy,” he said.

“I felt from the first day that I had been here a long time – the staff and the players, everybody just made it so easy for me to settle in. And Aaron has been great. He is a great team-mate, a leader as well. He is a great lad and a great keeper, we are team-mates and that is the main thing.

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“We are team-mates at the end of the day. Of course you never know when you’re going to play and that is the hardest thing to do.” It is something every player has to do, though, to back yourself to get in the team.

”And that is why I moved to Arsenal and try to do my best for the team when I’m selected.” When the opportunity came, though, Raya was ready. “Making your debut for a club like Arsenal and obviously having Aaron as a team-mate makes it a bit harder for you,” he said.

“But it came quickly. You never know when it is going to be and you have to be ready. It is a dream come true to play at the highest level in the Champions League so I’m very pleased to make my debut but the main thing was the result and we got the three points in the end, so that is the main thing.”

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