A journalist explain why David Raya chose Arsenal over Tottenham.
Though it appeared for a while that David Raya would be stuck at Brentford because of their refusal to budge on transfer price, the custodian has ended up at Arsenal and in competition with Aaron Ramsdale.
The 27-year-old should give the Gunners’ No.1 some serious competition for the goalkeeper’s shirt, which is clearly something Mikel Arteta wants to see from all places on the field.
Given how close Arsenal came to beating Man City for the Premier League title last season, coming to the Emirates was an obvious step up for the Spaniard.
A journalist explain why David Raya chose Arsenal over Tottenham.
However, one respected journalist cannot believe Raya made that decision.
“Can I also be extremely controversial?” I know you were interested in David Raya. “I am astounded that Raya has chosen to sit on the bench for a place rather than come to a club like Tottenham Hotspur where he could play regular first-team football behind a new backline,” Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror stated on the Last Word on Spurs podcast.
“To be honest, I’m stunned. You have to question the ambition of any player who would prefer sit on the bench behind an England international who helped the team contend for the title last season than move somewhere where there’s a huge hole in goal, I’ve got to say.”
Though Arsenal fans may not agree with Lewis, it’s difficult to disagree with him.
Even if he’s moved to a supposedly ‘bigger’ club, it’s hardly really a step if he finds himself on the bench more often than not.
Every football player should be looking to play every game, and whilst strength in depth and competition for places is all part of the modern game, ultimately, you want to be out on the pitch.
Raya had that at Brentford and, as Lewis rightly notes, he would also have had that at Spurs. Time will tell if he’s made the right choice.
